Name: Toni
Status: Other
Grade: Other
Location: N/A
Country: United States
Date: September 2006
Question:
Can viruses be the cause of cancer?
Replies:
Certain viruses can make you more susceptible to cancer or to increase your
chances of getting it. The most well known example is the human papilloma
virus or HPV which is implicated in increasing the chances of getting
cervical cancer. It is transmitted sexually and is considered an STD, or
sexually transmitted disease. Unfortunately, it has few if any symptoms.
The only way to know if it has been contracted is to be tested for it. Many
young women who are sexually active and have had multiple sex partners are
carriers of it and don't know it. The lessons here are that if you are
abstinent you won't get it, and if you are sexually active, going to the
doctor regularly to have an annual gynecological exam is warranted. A new
vaccine against HPV is being tested and may be given as a matter of course
to girls as soon as they reach puberty to prevent the chance of contracting
it.
vanhoeck
HPV (Human papilloma virus) is known to cause cervial cancer and HIV (Human
immunodeficiency virus) is known to cause Kapposi's sarcoma and lymphoma in
AIDS patients. If you google "cancer virus", you will find about 30 million
hits.
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