Can I get cancer?

Question: "Can I get cancer?" Is now becoming more relevant. Until recently, scientists unanimously declared that cancer can not be infected, but to date, there are several theories of carcinogenesis, and one of them quite reasonably states that some types of cancer have a viral etiology. In addition to viruses that pose a danger to a healthy person, cancer can develop under the influence of spontaneous mutation of cells, radiation and chemical effects. There is a theory that cancer is inherited in the form of a specific gene, which is responsible for the development of the tumor.

Can I get viral etiology?

Why is the virus considered to be the culprit of the development of a cancer cell in the human body? The fact that he is not able to reproduce on his own, therefore he attacks the DNA of the cell, builds his own into it and thereby creates his clones. When a new virus cell is synthesized, an ordinary cell most often dies. The oncogenic virus differs in that, when it penetrates into the human DNA, it does not destroy the cell, but turns it into a source of tumor development. It also happens that the virus only activates its own cellular oncogene, in this case the probability of tumor development is negligible. Therefore, the question: "Can I get cancer?" Can not be answered unambiguously today.

The probability of developing a cancerous tumor is small

Specialists claim that even carriers of oncovirus have a chance to get disease no more than 0.1%.In order for an oncological disease to manifest itself, it is necessary to coincide with a huge number of factors. To date, science is reliably known only about certain types of viruses, but they are responsible only for 15% of all cancers. So, with regard to cervical cancer there is quite convincing evidence that this ailment is caused by a virus that is sexually transmitted. Thus, cervical cancer can be attributed to a variety of venereal diseases, which confirms the theory that cancer is contagious.

Some types of viruses responsible for the development of tumors in the body

Human papillomavirus

The path of transmission of papillomavirus in the human body is predominantly sexual, but experts do not exclude the contact and everyday way of infection through microtrauma and cracks on the human body. To date, more than a hundred species of papillomaviruses have been studied, but only the 16th and 18th types can cause oncology.

Epstein-Barr virus

There are confirmed data that it is this virus that can induce the development of lymphoma, nasopharyngeal cancer and infectious mononucleosis in the body. Despite the fact that this virus is found in almost every person and transmitted with saliva, neoplasms due to it develop extremely rarely and have a pronounced racial identity. Thus, the cancer of the nasopharynx is quite common among Asians, and the Burketa lymphoma is common among Africans. The main factor for the development of lymphomas with the participation of this virus is a pronounced immunodeficiency.

Human herpesvirus of the 8th type

The mechanism of its action has not been sufficiently studied, but there is already evidence of a connection of the herpes virus with Kaposi's sarcoma and some lymphomas. Most often, its spread in the human body is associated with the presence of immunodeficiency. It is believed that the virus is common among a small number of Russians and is transmitted predominantly through sexual contact.

Human T-cell leukemia virus

The virus is transmitted from person to person by the vertical and sexual way. It provokes the development of T-cell leukemia in the body. The most common in Japan in the Caribbean.

Breast cancer virus

Despite sufficient prevalence, this virus is not as scary as it seems. It causes tumors only in 1% of cases, and therefore does not belong to the category of dangerous.

To answer the question: "Can I get cancer?", It is necessary to study the etiology of viruses as thoroughly as possible and to find out why their effects on the human body are not the same. In any case, the observance of personal and intimate hygiene, the refusal of promiscuous sexual intercourse, the increase of immunity is an excellent prevention of the occurrence of a cancer in the body.