Last Updated on May 20, 2022 by Shabnam Sengupta
No. Cancer is not contagious. You cannot catch cancer from someone sitting next to you or while sharing meals and breathing the same air. Cancer also does not spread through the exchange of bodily fluids.
However, in some cases, cancer cells may look contagious. Some viruses, bacteria and parasites such as Human papillomaviruses (HPVs), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Helicobacter pylori, Chlamydia trachomatis, Opisthorchis viverrine, Clonorchis sinensis and Schistosoma haematobium are known to cause cancer in human body under various circumstances.
Besides this, cancer may seem contagious if it runs within a family or if greater-than-expected cases occur within a group of people in a geographic area over a specific period. Moreover, some cancer types might transfer during organ transplants or pregnancies under some specific scenarios.
In conclusion, people with cancer need to be around other people to feel happy and healthy. Cancer is not contagious, but in very rare cases, cancer may spread. It is recommended to contact your nearby hospital if you come across a rare situation as mentioned above.
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