Colorectal Cancer Health Center

‘Western’ Diet Tied to Colon Cancer

More Study Needed

In addition to confirming the findings, further research is needed to understand exactly what components of the two diets are harmful and beneficial to colon cancer patients and former patients, Meyerhardt says.

In an interview with WebMD, American Cancer Society spokesman Michael Thun, MD, called the study provocative. But he agreed that they must be confirmed.

“We test many, many different drug combinations to treat cancer, but researchers are only now beginning to concentrate on diet and other lifestyle changes that can potentially affect the prognosis and survival of cancer patients,” he says.

Thun points out there are many good reasons for eating a diet rich in fruits vegetables and whole grains and limiting red and processed meats, refined grains, fats, and sugars.

“We can’t say with certainty that improving [colon cancer] survival is one of them, but it is worth finding out,” he says.