COFFEE AND CANCER - A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF 43,000 NORWEGIAN MEN AND WOMEN

Relationships between coffee drinking and cancer incidence were examin ed in a 10-year complete follow-up of 21,735 men and 21,238 women aged 35-54 years. The study population participated in a cardiovascular sc reening in three counties in Norway during 1977-82. Data on coffee and smoking habits were based on information from a self-administered que stionnaire. There was no association between coffee consumption and ov erall risk of cancer. A positive association was found between coffee drinking and risk of lung cancer, also after adjustment for age, cigar ette smoking, and county of residence. Residual confounding by cigaret te smoking and other lifestyle factors cannot be ruled out. A negative association was found with cancer of buccal cavity and pharynx and wi th malignant melanoma in women. No significant associations were found between coffee drinking and incidence of cancer of the pancreas or th e bladder.