Viruses

It is important to remember cancers are not infectious and cannot be caught from someone. However, there are a number of different viruses that are thought to be contributing factors in the development of cancer.

For example, exposure to HPV (human papilloma virus) is known to increase a woman’s risk of developing cancer of the cervix. For further information about this, see CancerBACUP’s section about HPV.

Other viruses include the Epstein-Barr virus, which is linked to some types of lymphoma.

There is also a bacterial infection known as H-pylori which is linked to a rare type of stomach cancer.

See Q&As on this topic for a number of questions and answers about viruses and cancer.