Want to protect yourself against cancer? Get vaccinated
5 hours ago
- An estimated one in eight cancer cases worldwide are caused by infections, many preventable via treatment or vaccines.
- In 2024, infections were responsible for ~2.3 million cancer cases (12% of diagnoses), with H. pylori and HPV accounting for over 1.5 million cases.
- Geographic disparities exist, with higher rates in sub-Saharan Africa due to lack of screening programs and investments.
- Preventive measures include HPV and hepatitis B vaccines, antibiotics for H. pylori, and hepatitis C screening/treatment.
- HPV vaccination has led to a >50% drop in cervical cancer rates among women aged 20-31 in some U.S. states since 2006.
- The Epstein-Barr virus is now linked to additional cancers like stomach cancer and rare lymphomas.