The infections quietly fuelling cancer - and the chance to stop them
For Bangladesh, the latest global cancer figures carry an uncomfortable message: some cancers may begin with infections that can often be prevented, detected or treated long before a tumour appears.
Bangladesh's recent global cancer figures reveal a distressing insight: many cancers may start with infections that can be prevented, spotted early, or treated before a tumor develops. In a nation already grappling with the emotional and financial strain of cancer, this underscores the importance of prevention. A recent global analysis suggests that infections are linked to around 2.3 million new cancer cases in 2024, accounting for about one in eight cancers diagnosed worldwide.
Shockingly, 77 percent of these cases occurred in low- and middle-income nations. Two infections stood out as major culprits: a stomach bacterium responsible for about 760,000 cases, primarily stomach cancer; and HPV, a virus commonly spread through intimate contact, contributing to approximately 750,000 cases, including cervical cancer.
Hepatitis B and C, known for silently damaging the liver over years, also played a significant role in liver cancer. For Bangladesh, these findings emphasize that the challenge isn't just about treating cancer after it appears, but about preventing certain cancers from starting in the first place. Vaccines against HPV and hepatitis B can prevent infections that later lead to cancer, while testing and timely treatment for hepatitis B, C, and the stomach bacterium can lower risk.
Additional preventive measures include safer injections, protection against sexually transmitted infections, and regular cervical screenings. However, the global landscape highlights a persistent inequality. Countries with fewer resources bear a disproportionate share of the burden, despite having access to many preventive tools.
Factors such as cost, limited access, lack of awareness, and gaps in healthcare services can transform a preventable infection into a cancer diagnosis years later. This research challenges the common perception of cancer as a random, hereditary, or inevitable consequence of aging. For Bangladesh, it presents an opportunity to shift cancer care "upstream," addressing the disease before diagnosis, hospitalization, and the emotional anguish it brings to families.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Star BD Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
