Why do some vaccines help prevent cancer?
Quick Answer
Some cancers are caused by long-term infection with cancer-linked viruses or bacteria. Vaccines against hepatitis B and human papillomavirus can prevent those infections and therefore reduce cancer risk.
The Full Story
A few cancers are strongly linked to infection. The hepatitis B vaccine reduces the risk of liver cancer by preventing chronic hepatitis B infection, and HPV vaccines prevent infections that can lead to cervical, anal, penile, and some throat cancers. This is cancer prevention through infection control, not direct cancer treatment. HPV vaccination programs have already reduced precancerous cervical changes in several countries. Vaccines are therefore one of the few medical tools that can prevent certain cancers before they ever begin.
Key Facts
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"Why are some cancer-prevention tools actually vaccines? Because infections can start cancer."
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