Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases that exist on earth. As soon as cancer is diagnosed to a person, he or she and even his family members have many questions regarding the disease, its cause, and how it spreads. One of the most commonly asked questions is whether cancer can be transmitted from one person to another. This is not surprising because of the association that people have about cancer with ill health and death, and any person would desire to avoid that for himself or others.
Fortunately, cancer is not a contagious disease. It doesn’t spread from one person to another through a handshake, a hug, a kiss, or a meal prepared for and eaten by a family member with cancer. But learning why this is the case, as well as how some misunderstand this, will make this story richer. Let’s explore some science behind cancer, why people often believe cancer is contagious, and how the current treatments in development, particularly immunotherapy, are changing cancer treatment.
What is cancer? How does it occur?
To find out whether or not one human being can obtain cancer from another, it will be necessary first to understand a basic definition of cancer. It is defined as a condition where cells become abnormal and reproduce uncontrollably, leading to tumors or masses of tissue. In the worst case, such abnormal cells might invade tissues or organs next to them or enter the bloodstream and spread to the farthest portions of the body; this situation is called metastasis.
Cancer could attack nearly all body parts and take several forms in its development. Some of the most common ones include lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate, and colorectal cancer. How cancer occurs or what triggers is still studied though it is still known that quite a number causes an increased likelihood of the illness, and includes the following;
- Genetics – Inherited mutations that increase its risk.
- Environmental factor: Exposure to pollutants or radiation.
- Lifestyle habits: Smoking, bad diet, physical inactivity, and alcohol abuse.
- Carcinogens: Cancer-producing agents such as asbestos or tobacco.
However, beyond the multifaceted nature and heterogeneity of cancer, there is one simple fact everyone needs to grasp: cancer is not infectious. It has nothing to do with infection that transmits from person to person. Many people believe this, and it should be banned from our minds.
Why Cancer Appears To Be Contagious for Others
Even though cancer is not infectious from person to person, by direct and indirect natural exposure, there are a few circumstances where it seems like cancer is spreading from one person to another. Let us examine a couple of such instances:
- Genetic Causes: Inheritance Risk of Cancer
Genetic inheritance is one of the primary causes for which individuals would believe that cancer is contagious. In this aspect, cancer may run in families, just like breast or colon cancer tends to do, causing one to believe that people are getting it from each other. This is not, however, what exactly defines the nature of passing cancer because mutations that would have resulted from genetics or traits inherited do not indicate the passing of cancer.
Instead, a mutation may be shared among family members, such as the genetic mutation BRCA1 or BRCA2, which increases the risk of someone developing breast cancer. While a mutation can predispose an individual to develop cancer, it cannot transmit the disease like a strain of a virus or a bacterium transmits an infectious disease.
For instance, Dr. Vikesh Shah, one of India’s leading cancer specialists, says, “If someone in your family has cancer, it’s important to know the possible genetic risk you are exposed to, but cancer itself is not transmitted from one individual to another. You may be more susceptible to particular cancers, but you cannot ‘catch’ cancer from someone else.”
Although inherited genetic mutations increase the risk of cancer in family members, it is important to recognize that genetic predisposition is not the same as being “infected” with cancer.
- Cancer-Causing Viruses
Although cancer is not an infectious disease, there are some viruses that have been seen to contribute to the increased risk of getting cancer. The viruses do not cause the disease directly but affect the general function of the body, making it easier for the disease to come about. The viruses include those that are contagious. This is why the disease is perceived wrongly as being infectious.
Some of the viruses considered to promote the development of cancer include the following:
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV): The HPV virus has more than 200 viruses and their derivatives. Certain types of HPV will result in altering the cervix, causing cervical cancer. Generally, HPV is transmitted through sexual contact and accounts for one of the leading causes of cervical cancer in the world.
- Hepatitis B: It causes inflammation in the liver Perhaps the highest risk identified that is associated with potential transmission – through direct human contact- includes sexual relation by contamination through blood.
- Hepatitis C is mainly caused by blood infection that is transmitted through contact, including blood tissue.
- Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV): EBV is the causative agent for mononucleosis, or the “kissing disease.” EBV has been associated with an increased risk of cancers that are forms of lymphomas, including Burkitt’s lymphoma and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. EBV is spread by saliva as well as by intimate contact.
These viruses are said to be more risky in terms of causing cancer, but again, these viruses do not mean that a person can get cancer in the same sense as one gets the flu. Vaccination, early detection, and screening can easily curtail the risks connected with these viruses, thereby making it easier to prevent cancer.
- Cancer Transfer During Organ Transplant
Very rarely, cancer cells are transferred via organ transplant. This occurs when the donor has cancer and is either not diagnosed or is not treated for it because even though this happens rarely, there is still a check-up process in the screening of the donor for the organ.
Careful screening by doctors is made before transplanting an organ so that it would not have any trace of cancer or other diseases within the organs of the recipient during organ transplantation. Additionally, immunosuppressive drugs administered to the recipients of the transplants to prevent their immune system from rejecting the newly transplanted organ may lead to an increase in the incidence of cancer since they suppress the immunity of detecting and killing the abnormal cells. In no way, however, does this imply that cancer is contagious; rather, it results from weakened immunity as a consequence of transplant drugs.
- Cancer During Pregnancy
In very few cases, the developing baby from a pregnant woman who has cancer may end up inheriting the disease. Mostly, the mother’s developing baby is not affected by most cancers occurring in her. This, however, is with some cancers, especially the melanoma type among others. But in such cases, the baby might be exposed after the placenta gets infected with the cells.
Generally, there is a very low chance of cancer happening to the fetus in most pregnancies. Advances in medicine and the care given help pregnant women have babies even if they are already under treatment for their disease with a healthy birth.
Immunotherapy: Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment
Although cancer itself is not contagious, it is included in the list of most efficient treatments against cancer. Immunotherapy employs the body’s immune system to kill the cancerous cells. Immunotherapy is selective for cancer cells since it does not target all the rapidly multiplying cells in the body as chemotherapy does, which actually lessens its destructive potential in comparison with chemotherapy.
Indeed, it is a wonderful treatment for all cancers including melanoma, lung, leukemia, and many more. Indeed, it does represent a revolutionary treatment that brings the medical oncologist a totally new approach to handling cancer care.
Dr. Vikesh Shah, one of the renowned cancer specialists in India in immunotherapy has been helping a lot of patients to recover with such advanced treatment processes. “It has revolutionized the treatment procedures of cancer patients by allowing a body to internally fight against carcinoma cells,” clarifies Dr. Vikesh Shah. “There is always the scope of knowing and improving treatment strategies for enhancing the care levels of patients.”
Common Cancer Myths Which Are Not True
Above are some common types of myths people believe regarding this disease. Since cancer is not contagious, many other myths, which are discussed below, seem to continue circulating fear and confusion. So here’s the real truth:
- Myth 1: You come to get cancer from somebody who has the disease.
Truth: Cancer is not infectious. Cancer cannot be transmitted either directly or indirectly through contact and air. - Myth 2: All cancers are hereditary
Truth: Although a few cancers are due to genetic predisposition, most cancers are not inherited. Lifestyles contributing to such diseases include diet, smoking, and environmental exposures. - Myth 3: All cancers are fatal.
Truth: Cancer treatment has improved by leaps and bounds. Many kinds of cancers are treated more successfully than before, and the prognosis improves if cancer is caught early, combined with individualized treatment plans. - Myth 4: “You can catch cancer from someone who has it.”
Truth: You cannot catch cancer from someone who has the disease. People with cancer need support and compassion, so it’s time to care emotionally and physically as they go through their treatment.
To put it in a nutshell, cancer is not contagious. It cannot be transmitted from one person to another through physical contact or by staying in the same room. Although there are some viruses and genetic factors that increase the risk of cancer, these do not mean that cancer is contagious like the flu or common cold. Knowing how cancer works and the myth-busting surrounding it helps reduce unnecessary fear and clarifies this disease.
If you or a loved one is battling cancer, getting the right professional doctor who will take care of the cancer will be very important. Dr. Vikesh Shah is an immunotherapy and cancer care expert who provides advanced treatments and personalized care to cancer patients. His clinic in Ahmedabad is dedicated to providing cutting-edge cancer treatment and assisting patients in navigating their cancer journey.
Do not hesitate to contact Dr. Vikesh Shah’s clinic for consultations and more information about available treatments.