Many health professionals still think coffee causes cancer

According to WCRF UK’S recent awareness survey [1], 36 per cent of health professionals believe drinking coffee can cause cancer, despite no evidence of a link between coffee and the disease. This is particularly interesting given that a previous You Gov survey commissioned by WCRF UK found that only 12 per cent of the general population thought coffee was a risk factor for cancer. However, 81 per cent of health professionals knew that poor diet increases risk of cancer compared with 63 per cent of the general public.

The survey of 143 NHS workers included nurses, health visitors and GPs and was carried out between September and November 2009.

Overall, 79 per cent of health professionals were aware that being overweight increases the risk of cancer, compared with 60 per cent of the public, and 78 per cent knew of the link with alcohol, compared with 51 per cent of the public.

But the percentage who were aware that lack of physical activity increases the risk of cancer was only 64 per cent among NHS workers and 47 per cent of the public.

Although the survey was small, it revealed that some health professionals are still not aware of which lifestyle factors increase cancer risk.

There is no strong evidence that coffee increases the risk of cancer. In fact, drinking unsweetened tea or coffee is recommended as an alternative to sugary drinks. Moreover, a recent large prospective study [2] has found that coffee might protect against endometrial cancer. Visit WCRF UK Recommendations page to read about lifestyle-related cancer risk factors.

References

• Health professionals “less aware than public” on myth that coffee increases risk of cancer [online]. Available from: http://www.wcrf-uk.org/audience/media/press_release.php?recid=88
• Friberg E et al. Coffee drinking and risk of endometrial cancer – A population-based cohort study. International Journal of Cancer. 2009; 125: 2413–2417

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