Refined carbs can affect colon cancer outcome

A new study found that people treated for Stage 3 colon cancer, in which tumor cells have spread to lymph nodes, had greatly increased chances of dying of it or experiencing a recurrence if their diets were heavy in carbohydrate-rich foods that cause spikes in blood sugar and insulin. The patients who consumed the most carbohydrates and foods with high glycemic loads had an 80 percent greater chance of dying or having a recurrence during the roughly seven-year study period than those who had the lowest levels. The study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, indicates that insulin may play the critical role in recurrence.