Four common infections that can cause cancer are:
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Hepatitis B virus (HBV)Can cause liver cancer. HBV can be transmitted from mother to child, so pregnant women should get tested. Chronic HBV infections require treatment with antiviral medications or interferon.
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Human papillomavirus (HPV)Can cause cervical and other anogenital cancers. HPV is sexually transmitted, so practicing safe sex can help reduce the risk of infection.
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Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)Can cause Burkitt’s lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and certain types of lymphoma. EBV is spread through saliva, blood transfusions, organ transplantation, and sexual contact.
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Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)A common bacteria that can cause cancer. H. pylori is found in saliva, plaque, and feces, and infections are often spread through close family contact or crowded living quarters.
Other infections that can cause cancer include: Hepatitis C virus (HCV), Human herpes virus-8 (HHV-8), Human T-lymphotrophic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV).
Screening is available for some cancer-related viruses, and can help catch cancer early.
