TWO RECENT STUDIES on dietary fat and breast cancer just about pushed a friend of mine over the edge. One, a huge, well-respected observational study, found no link between breast cancer and fat in the diet. Another, a pooling of findings from 13 previous clinical studies, indicated there could be a link.

Part of the confusion may result from the fact that these are two very different kinds of studies - like two blind men describing an elephant not only at different spots but also using different methods, each with its own limitations. And the fact is that the role diet - and, in particular, fat - plays in breast cancer is far from clear.

- any type - was associated with a lower risk of breast cancer. In fact, they found that those who ate the lowest percentage of fat - less than 20 percent of their daily diet - had the highest risk of breast cancer.