The CRC believes it may be possible that diet is particularly important during a woman's development. It's a puzzle at the moment, diet and breast cancer. The only established link is obesity. There's no doubt at all that obesity increases the risk, although only in women who have gone through the menopause. Beyond that there's nothing definite.
Experts believe about one in three cancer deaths are linked to diet.
But although high fat diets are thought to be a major culprit, it's not exactly clear why. The Cancer Research Campaign says a diet high in fat increases the chances of cancers of the prostate and the bowel. The link with breast cancer is less clear-cut. Substitute meat with fish or beans on some days of the week. We don't know precisely which constituents of vegetable and fruit are protective, so it is best to eat a wide range of different foods,' it says.