We considered the possibility that patients with either occult
cancer recurrences or other statistically significant poor prognostic
characteristics may have increased their sugar-sweetened beverage
intake as an alternative source of needed calories. To minimize
this bias, we excluded recurrences or deaths within 90 days of FFQ
completion. When we extended this restriction to 6 months, we
continued to observe a deleterious association of sugar-sweetened
beverage consumption on patient outcomes. Finally, because
patients on this clinical trial underwent comprehensive staging at
study entry and were followed with prescribed follow-up visits and
testing, we would expect few patients to have undetected
recurrences over extended periods.