Sugar-sweetened soda linked to increased risk of death from breast cancer: Study New research concludes women diagnosed with breast cancer are 85% more likely to die from the disease if they drink non-diet soda five or more times a week. Researchers at the University of Buffalo compared the health outcomes of breast cancer patients who ‘never or rarely drank non-diet soda’ with those who reported drinking non-diet soda five times or more per week. The study, published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, found those who drank sugar-sweetened beverages regularly were at increased risk of death from any cause – and faced higher breast cancer mortality rates in particular.