Yes, stress is a major factor. It is a cause of acidity in the body and helps contribute to the condition of acidosis, which is a very favorable condition for cancer and other diseases. An alkaline cellular environment is high-oxygen, and an acidic environment is low-oxygen. On the pH scale of 1 to 14, with 7 being neutral, your blood is 7.365 and can't vary much at all or you would die. Your body leaches calcium from your bones and organs to buffer it from acidity. I know of doctors who claim a 100% success rate with many types of cancers when they can get their patients' cellular pH levels to about 7.4 and maintain it for a few months. Most Americans have a cellular pH around 6, cancer patients usually even lower. Stress is acid-forming, all animal products are acid-forming, soft drinks, sports drinks and energy drinks are EXTREMELY acid-forming, sugar is very acid-forming and referred to as cancer food, all OTC and prescription meds are acid-forming, chlorine and fluoride are acid-forming, processed foods are acid-forming, air pollution is acid-forming. Alkalizing isn't easy with diet. The easiest way to alkalize is to drink alkaline water, since your body is about 70% water.