Infections account for an estimated 13% of all cancer cases globally, the American Association for Cancer Research found, but more work is needed to help patients prevent these infections, The New York Times reported Sept. 18.
Four infections are the biggest culprits in certain cancer cases. However, through recent efforts to prevent and treat these infections, we are now close to "turning what would have previously been some common cancers into rare diseases," Michael Pignone, a professor of medicine at the Durham, N.C.-based Duke School of Medicine told the Times.
The four infections are:
- Human papillomavirus — associated with cervical, genital and oral cancers.
- Hepatitis B — associated with liver cancer.
- Hepatitis C — associated with liver cancer.
- H. pylori — associated with gastric cancer.