Is Cancer Contagious? Facts and Risks of Transmission (original) (raw)
What is cancer?
Cancer is a disease of uncontrolled multiplication of malignant cells.
Cancer is a disease of uncontrolled multiplication of abnormal cells (malignant cells). Cancer can affect any part of the body. The abnormal growth of cells often results in a mass (tumor) of malignant cells that causes further problems by occupying space used by normal tissues. Cancer cells can also move away (metastasize) from their initial site of development to invade other tissues of the body.
Is cancer contagious?
Have you wondered, “Is cancer catchable?” Cancer is not contagious. Close personal contact with a cancer patient, sexual relationships, kissing, touching, and sharing meals and/or utensils cannot cause other people to have cancer. Rarely, individuals who have received organ transplants from individuals that have cancer may also develop cancer from the transplant. However, currently a stricter screening procedure for organ donors has reduced the risk of transplants that cause cancer in organ recipients. Another very rare instance where cancer is transferred is from a pregnant mother to the fetus. A number of different viruses (human papilloma, Epstein-Barr, hepatitis B), bacteria (Helicobacter pylori), and parasites are associated with various cancers. However, although the viruses and other pathogens may be contagious or simply infectious, the cancers these organisms are associated with are not considered to be contagious in the traditional sense.
Therefore, the questions — "Is cancer transmittable? " or "Is cancer transmissible?" — can be definitively answered with no. Overall, the concept of "contagious cancer" does not apply, and understanding this distinction is crucial for addressing misconceptions about cancer transmission.
Can cancer be transmitted through saliva?
Cancer itself is not contagious, and it cannot be transmitted from one person to another through saliva or any other bodily fluid. Cancer develops due to genetic mutations and a complex interplay of environmental factors, lifestyle choices, and sometimes inherited predispositions.
However, some infections that can be spread through saliva, such as the human papillomavirus (HPV) or the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), are associated with certain types of cancer. For example, HPV is linked to cervical and oropharyngeal cancers, while EBV is associated with lymphomas and nasopharyngeal cancer. These viruses can be transmitted through close contact, including kissing, but having the virus does not necessarily mean a person will develop cancer.
While cancer is not contagious, certain viruses that can increase cancer risk may be transmitted through saliva. Preventive measures, such as regular health screenings and vaccination against HPV, can help reduce the risk of virus-related cancers.
How will I know if I have cancer?
There are more than 100 types of cancers (including breast cancers, lung cancers, bowel cancers, metastatic cancers, and many more). If you have some of the following symptoms and signs, it would be reasonable to contact your physician and let the physician know you are concerned:
- Lumps, bumps, and/or masses underneath your skin
- Sores that do not heal on the skin
- Testicular changes (abnormal growths or masses)
- Breast lumps, bumps, or masses
- Nipple discharge and/or skin changes
- Changes in your bowel pattern such as pencil-thin stools and/or blood in the stools
- Sores that will not heal on any mucous membranes
- Persistent cough and/or shortness of breath
- Difficulty swallowing or speaking
- Unexplained weight loss
- Constant fatigue
- Persistent painless bleeding in the urine
- Persistent pain (constant headache, abdominal pains, chest discomfort)
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding or abnormal vaginal discharge
- Abnormal bloating and/or swelling
- Persistent indigestion, nausea, and/or vomiting.
There are various tests your physician can perform to evaluate your particular symptoms.
How does cancer spread?
Cancer is not contagious. In other words, there is no such thing as "contagious cancer" that can be transmitted from person to person through casual contact. However, cancer can spread within the individual as the disease progresses. Cancer cells can disseminate from their original site and spread to other organs through blood and lymph vessels, and by direct extension of the tumor into other organs of the body.
While you may wonder about the nature of cancer and whether it is contagious, it is important to understand that the mechanisms of cancer spread are internal to the body. This means that even though cancer can progress and metastasize, it does not mean that cancer is contagious or that you can catch cancer from someone else. Thus, any concerns about "contagious cancer" are unfounded, as the disease itself cannot be passed from one person to another. Understanding this distinction helps dispel myths surrounding cancer transmission and reassures those who may be concerned about close contact with individuals diagnosed with cancer.
When will I know I am cured of cancer?
Some cancers can be cured while others cannot. A cancer that is no longer evident by physical, radiology, and laboratory evaluations after certain periods of time may be considered by the doctor to be cured. Each form and stage of cancer is different in this regard.
When should I contact a medical caregiver about cancer?
Individuals should contact a medical caregiver if they have symptoms that make them suspect they might have cancer. Individuals who have a family history of certain types of cancer should be regularly checked by a physician. If you are a patient who has cancer, you should seek medical care immediately if you develop a high fever, shortness of breath, intense headaches, vomiting blood or passing blood rectally, chest pain or moderate to severe weakness, passing out (fainting), mental status changes, or seizures.
Frequently asked questions
- Is skin cancer contagious if you touch it? Skin cancer is not contagious and cannot be spread through touch or contact with the affected area. It develops from genetic mutations and environmental factors rather than infectious agents. As a result, you cannot catch skin cancer from another person.
- What is the cause and transmission of cancer? Cancer is caused by mutations in the DNA that may arise from environmental exposures (tobacco smoke and radiation), lifestyle choices (diet and physical activity), and inherited genetic predispositions. While cancer itself is not contagious, certain viruses that can lead to cancer, such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B, can be transmitted between individuals.
- Which cancers types can spread? Cancer itself does not spread in the same way as infectious diseases; however, many types of cancer can metastasize or spread from their original site to other parts of the body. Common cancers that metastasize include breast, lung, prostate, and colorectal cancers, which often spread to the liver, bones, or brain. This spread occurs through the bloodstream or lymphatic system, leading to the development of secondary tumors.
- Can cancer spread by contact? Cancer does not spread through contact; it is not contagious. The disease arises from genetic changes within an individual's cells, which means it cannot be transmitted from one person to another.
- What are the 3 contagious cancers? Transmissible venereal tumor (TVT), canine melanoma, and devil facial tumor disease (DFTD) are the three contagious cancers, but they primarily affect animals, not humans. According to the American Cancer Society, cancer is not contagious. You cannot "catch" cancer from another person through close contact, such as sex, kissing, or sharing meals. Cancer cells cannot survive in a healthy person's body because the immune system detects and eliminates foreign cells, including those from another individual.
SLIDESHOW Understanding Cancer: Metastasis, Stages of Cancer, and More See Slideshow
Medically Reviewed on 9/28/2024
References
Is Cancer Contagious? American Cancer Society. Accessed September 18, 2024. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/understanding-cancer-risk/is-cancer-contagious.
What Are Advanced and Metastatic Cancers? American Cancer Society. Accessed September 18, 2024. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/advanced-cancer/what-is.html
Common Cancer Myths and Misconceptions. National Cancer Institute. Accessed September 18, 2024. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/myths