Infectious agents linked to cancer include bacteria, such as *Helicobacter pylori* (H. pylori), and viruses, such as human papillomavirus (HPV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and hepatitis B and C. But keep in mind that an exceedingly small percentage of infected people develop cancer.
As an oncologist, when I think about risk factors for developing cancer, I keep in mind a basic principle: Many cancers occur when cells in an organ are encouraged to grow and divide more frequently. Statistically, cells that divide more frequently are more likely to make a mistake, and this mistake can give that cell a growth advantage over other cells, transforming that normal cell to a cancerous cell. Factors such as inflammation or infection cause increased cell turnover or [introduce the mistake](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7052849/#:~:text=In%20order%20to%20evade%20immune,gastric%20cancer%2C%20and%20breast%20cancer.) that drive cells to grow.
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Guest column by Mikkael A. Sekeres, MD:
**How worried should I be about infections that cause cancer?**
Cancers caused by infections are quite common. A recent [report](https://cancerprogressreport.aacr.org/progress/cpr24-contents/cpr24-reducing-the-risk-of-cancer-development/) from the American Association for Cancer Research attributed 13 percent of cancer cases worldwide to infections. Some [estimates](https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/infections/infections-that-can-lead-to-cancer/intro.html) run as high as 20 percent, with particularly high rates of infection-related cancers in developing countries.
Infectious agents linked to cancer include bacteria, such as *Helicobacter pylori* (H. pylori), and viruses, such as human papillomavirus (HPV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and hepatitis B and C. But keep in mind that an exceedingly small percentage of infected people develop cancer.
As an oncologist, when I think about risk factors for developing cancer, I keep in mind a basic principle: Many cancers occur when cells in an organ are encouraged to grow and divide more frequently. Statistically, cells that divide more frequently are more likely to make a mistake, and this mistake can give that cell a growth advantage over other cells, transforming that normal cell to a cancerous cell. Factors such as inflammation or infection cause increased cell turnover or [introduce the mistake](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7052849/#:~:text=In%20order%20to%20evade%20immune,gastric%20cancer%2C%20and%20breast%20cancer.) that drive cells to grow.
Read more here: [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2024/10/14/cancers-caused-by-infections/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2024/10/14/cancers-caused-by-infections/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com)