Roughly 90 percent of women who get this cancer are or were smokers, but if you quit 15 or more years ago, your risk is close to what it is for someone who has never smoked, says Chandra P. Belani, M.D., codirector of the Lung Cancer Program at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. Studies show that lung cancer is particularly associated with a high-fat diet, says Frank Detterbeck, M.D., director of the multidisciplinary thoracic oncology program at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Other research points to the benefits of a diet abundant in fresh fruits and vegetables. But it's worth noting that this is a lifetime risk. A woman in her 40s actually has only a one in 60, or 1.6 percent, chance of getting breast cancer.
Obesity is harmful because fat cells produce estrogen in addition to what the ovaries also produce.
While some estrogen is necessary for strong bones and a healthy heart, excessive amounts increase your risk for breast cancer. There's also some evidence that a high-fat diet increases your risk, although this hasn't been definitely proven. Explore genetic counseling. If these cancers seem to run in your family, talk to your health care provider about genetic testing and counseling. This highly preventable disease is mainly caused by polyps, benign growths in the colon and rectum that can sometimes become cancerous.