Does Stress Cause Cancer? Probably Not, Research Finds

Christina Koenig found out she had breast cancer on a Friday afternoon. She was just 39 years old.

On Monday, she thought she knew why the cancer had struck.

"I went in and talked to a team of medical professionals who ultimately performed a lumpectomy, and I said, 'How long has this been there?' They said, 'Five to ten years.' And immediately, my mind jumped to: 'Well, I did go through a divorce. I did have stress.' "

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Steve Kagan for The New York Times

Christina Koenig in the wig and prosthesis bank of Y-ME's Chicago offices. Ms. Koenig was divorced four years before her cancer was found. Was it coincidence? She wonders.

Preventing Cancer
Previous articles in this series explored whether diet and exercise matter in prevention. Subsequent ones will look at the roles of the environment and genetics.

Part 1: Diet and Cancer

Part 2: Exercise and Cancer

Email Gina Kolata at: kolata@nytimes.com.