Cancer: Research shows popular hot drink could reduce skin and liver cancer

Gemma Atkinson bickers with Gorka about getting coffee

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The World Cancer Research Fund found that increased coffee consumption was associated with a lower risk of developing liver cancer and basal cell carcinoma of the skin. These findings were led by Dr Kostas Tsilidis – a senior lecturer in cancer epidemiology at Imperial College London. Dr Tsilidis said: “Our research found that coffee consumption may be associated with a lower risk of developing liver cancer and basal cell carcinoma of the skin.

“The exact mechanisms for this are not known, but it could be due to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of some compounds found in coffee.

“More research is needed to understand the biological mechanisms behind these associations and to investigate if the different ways of drinking coffee and types of coffee have an impact.”

Fellow researcher, Dr Giota Mitrou, concurred that “further research” is needed to better understand the link between coffee and cancer.

Liver cancer

Cancerous cells that accumulate in the liver may not present any symptoms, warned the NHS.

However, if symptoms do occur, you might experience unexpected weight loss.

Other indications might include jaundice, itchy skin, darker pee and paler poo.

You may feel as though you have no energy, and you might feel under the weather.

Do pay attention if there is a right lump that appears on the right side of your stomach.

Liver cancer may also disrupt your digestion, which can lead to feelings of nausea.

It’s possible that you could feel very full after eating only a small plate of food.

Furthermore, your stomach may be swollen, irregardless if you’ve not eaten much or not at all.

How to minimise risk of liver cancer

The NHS recommend cutting down on alcohol, making sure you drink no more than 14 units per week.

In addition, it’s better for your health not to smoke and to lose weight if needs be.

Another preventative measure against liver cancer is to “wear protective clothes and masks if you work in a job where you’re exposed to harmful chemicals”.

Basal cell skin cancer

The Skin Cancer Foundation noted that basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer.

BCCs grow very slowly, so most lesions are curable and cause minimal damage.

What do BCCs look like?

“BCCs can look like open sores, red patches, pink growths, shiny bumps, scars or growths with slightly elevated, rolled edges and/or a central indentation,” the organisation pointed out.

Some BCCs may ooze fluid, crust, itch, or bleed, and treatment is necessary to stop the cancer from spreading.

“Untreated BCCs can become locally invasive, grow wide and deep into the skin and destroy skin, tissue and bone,” warned the Skin Cancer Foundation.

If you’re concerned about any lesions on your skin, do book an appointment with your doctor or a skin specialist.

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