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Is cancer contagious?
I visited a cancer patient and was wondering. I wasn't wearing a mask or anything.
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Cancer is DEFINITELY NOT contagious.
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Cancer itself is not contagious.
In a nut shell: Cancer is a disease that causes unregulated cell growth. Cancer itself is an non-communicable disease (that means it's isn't contagious).
"Viral Cancer" is a real term, but it doesn't mean you can 'catch' cancer from someone. "Viral Cancer" is a causal term applied to viruses that can lead to cancer (also called an oncovirus). Not everyone who gets an oncovirus will develop cancer, but having certain a oncovirus can greatly increase your risk of getting certain kinds of cancer.
For example, HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that has been linked to cervical cancer in women. That makes HPV an oncovirus. HPV is what you can 'catch' through sexual intercourse with an infected person, but you can't 'catch' the cancer. You develop the cancer over time, having the oncovirus increases your risk of developing cancer.
If the cancer patient you visited had a contagious oncovirus, you would have been told to take the right actions to prevent infection, but it's very unlikely. Only a very small number of cancers (about 10% of cases in most recent reports I could find) are linked to any oncovirus, and most oncoviruses can't be caught just by being in the same room with someone (I'm pretty sure the most common are STIs).
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While there is some science to the effect that there may be a viral cancer it is still unsubstantiated.
When visiting a cancer patient the only reason to wear a mask is for the patients benefit to guard him/her against any viral pr bacterial infection you may be carrying as their immune system is compromised.
Since the science about a viral cancer is unsubstantiated and after 30 years in the fire department and transporting many cancer patients to hospitals. I would say you have nothing to worry about.
Do consider wearing a mask when visiting a cancer patient if you have a cold or recovering from an illness.
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Cancer is not contagious
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No it's not.
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