Here’s some good news for people who are slightly ashamed of their caffeine addiction: new studies have found that drinking coffee can lower a person’s chance of developing skin cancer. According to a new report in the journal Cancer Research, people who drink coffee could have their chances of developing basal cell carcinoma lowered. Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer.
Researchers studied data from the Nurses’ Health Study on more than 112,000 people. One quarter of those studied had developed BCC over the 20-year study period. However, the researchers found that people who drank more than two cups of coffee a day lowered their risk of that type of cancer.
But the good news doesn’t stop there. Scientists feel that caffeine is the common factor because the same results were found for people who drank tea and eat chocolate.
In the United States over one million people a year are diagnosed with BCC. It was once mostly found in the older population of society, but it’s being found more and more among younger people. The incidence of BCC has been described as an “epidemic” by some experts.
Basal cell carcinoma is a slow-growing form of skin cancer. And although it’s not as serious as melanoma, it can still lead to death if not treated. The most at-risk populations include Caucasians, especially those with blue eyes and a pale complexion. Also, people with red, blonde or light-brown hair are at risk. However, that doesn’t mean that doctors recommend that people start measuring their coffee intake by gallons as opposed to cups.
But, the results of the study clearly adds basal cell carcinoma to a growing list of conditions that seem to decrease with coffee consumption. Other conditions include type-2 diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. Scientists and researchers note that this study is just the beginning. There is a great deal of research that needs to be done to fully understand why caffeine consumption can cut people’s risk of developing this type of cancer along with other conditions.
But, for now, enjoy that cup of coffee!