• Question: Is cancer contagious?

    Asked by Soha? to Greg, Jen, Laura, Mobeen, Paul on 9 Mar 2016.
    • Photo: Greg Melia

      Greg Melia answered on 9 Mar 2016:

      Hi Soha,
      No, cancer itself isn’t contagious. Cancer isn’t a bacterial or viral infection so it can’t be passed on.

      Some viruses such as Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) can cause cancer, and HPV can be passed between people. That doesn’t mean that you can catch the cancer from someone else who has the cancer though – and in the case of HPV, there is now a vaccine for it.

      http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancers-in-general/cancer-questions/what-is-the-hpv-virus

    • Photo: Jen Lowe

      Jen Lowe answered on 9 Mar 2016:

      The general answer is no. There is no concern in being in the same room as or touching someone with cancer. (You may have restrictions due to their treatment though – chemotherapy or radiotherapy).
      However some viruses that can be transmitted in people can increase your risk of cancer. Mostly sexually transmitted viruses. HPV, hepatitis and HIV can increase the risk of getting certain cancers. So it’s good to be informed about these.
      Girls age 12-13 are currently offered an HPV vaccine in UK schools to reduce the risk of cervical cancer.
      http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/infectiousagents/infectiousagentsandcancer/infectious-agents-and-cancer-viruses

    • Photo: Paul O'Mahoney

      Paul O'Mahoney answered on 9 Mar 2016:

      Not in the sense that you can catch a cold or the flu, but as the others have said, some things like HPV can be transmitted which can cause cancer, but as Greg said there is a vaccine now. (Follow Jen and Gregs links for more info!)

    • Photo: Laura Haworth

      Laura Haworth answered on 9 Mar 2016:

      I think the others have explained this well that it is not contagious.
      Although there is the HPV vaccine being given to girls ( I was one of the guinea pigs to try it) it is important to remember there is a number of strains of this virus (about 100) and this vaccine protects against 2; therefore having the vaccination doesn’t completely prevent a girl getting cervical cancer but helps reduce the risk.

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