Diet may influence cancer recurrence

BOSTON, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- U.S. patients with colon cancer who ate a Western diet high in meat, refined grains, fat and desserts had an increased risk of cancer recurrence and death.

Dr. Jeffrey A. Meyerhardt, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, and colleagues examined the influence of two distinct dietary patterns on cancer recurrence and survival in a group of 1,009 stage III colon cancer patients -- cancer in the colon and lymph nodes.

The Western pattern was characterized by high intakes of meat, fat, refined grains and dessert, while the prudent pattern was characterized by high intakes of fruits and vegetables, poultry and fish.

A significantly higher overall risk of death occured in those who ate the Western dietary pattern, while the prudent dietary pattern was not significantly associated with cancer recurrence or death, the Journal of the American Medical Association said.

"Causality cannot and should not be drawn from these data," the study said. "Nonetheless, the data suggest that a diet characterized by higher intakes of red and processed meats, sweets and desserts, french fries, and refined grains increases the risk of cancer recurrence and decreases survival."