Stress

Although some studies have explored stress and a possible association with breast cancer, no definite link has yet been found.

We all experience and measure stress in different ways and this makes it difficult for researchers to establish a framework for investigating its effect on cancer risk.

The problem is further complicated by the fact that stress can lead to unhealthy responses such as drinking and putting on weight, which themselves increase the risk of breast cancer. This, in turn, can make it difficult to separate the effects of stress on breast cancer from other risk factors.