The new study, published in The Lancet Oncology journal, claims that today one in six cases of cancer is caused by the presence of a curable infection in the human body.
Dr. Catherine de Martel and Dr. Martyn Plummer, the leading specialists of the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon (France), have analyzed the statistics of cases of cancer worldwide in the year of 2008. It was found that 2 million (or 16.1% of the total number) cases of cancer (including colon, liver, cervix and uterus cancer) were caused by infections. The scientists note that most of them are treatable and preventable.
These are the infections caused by Helicobacter pylori bacterium (it has been proved recently that it causes stomach ulcers), hepatitis B and C, and human papilloma virus. Judging by the results of the analyses, 95% of the patients diagnosed with cancer were proved to have one of these four agents.
Taking into consideration this discovery, the French scientists urged to change the approach to the global health system, focusing on the prevention of infections, antimicrobial therapy, and vaccination.
