Can Parasites Lead to Cancer?
- Good To Know 33
- Oct 29, 2023
- 2 min read
Extensive research has highlighted the potential connection between chronic ailments like inflammatory bowel disease and the heightened risk of colorectal cancer. Furthermore, evidence suggests that enduring parasitic infections can trigger the onset of cancers affecting various organs within the gastrointestinal tract.
What is Cancer?
Healthy cells typically grow and divide in an organized way. However, cancer cells behave differently, multiplying without control. They can also invade nearby tissues and spread to other body parts through the blood or lymphatic systems.
Parasites Cause Higher Cancer Risk?
The connection between parasites and cancer is complicated and not completely understood. However, there is increasing evidence that parasites may contribute to the development of certain cancers, especially in people who have had long-lasting parasite infections for ten years or more.
Several mechanisms underpin the potential contribution of parasites to cancer development. Chronic inflammation, induced by parasites, is one mechanism.
While inflammation is the body’s normal response to infection, persistent inflammation can harm cellular structures and genetic material, potentially instigating cancer formation.
Parasites also have the capacity to modify the immune system’s functioning. They can either suppress the immune response, making it arduous for the body to combat cancer cells, or activate the immune system in a manner conducive to cancer progression.
DNA damage caused by Parasites?
Some parasites can directly inflict damage to DNA, fostering mutations that may lead to cancer development. Noteworthy examples of parasites associated with an elevated cancer risk include:
Liver flukes (Opisthorchis viverrini and Clonorchis sinensis), implicated in cholangiocarcinoma, a bile duct cancer.
Schistosoma haematobium, linked to bladder cancer.
Toxoplasma gondii, the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, has been associated with a higher likelihood of developing lymphoma, a form of blood cancer.
Malaria, caused by the Plasmodium parasite, has been linked to an increased risk of Burkitt’s lymphoma, a cancer affecting the lymphatic system.
While not everyone infected with parasites will develop cancer, those who have endured long-term infections or multiple episodes face an escalated risk. It’s not uncommon for parasites to remain undetected throughout a person’s lifetime, given the challenge of diagnosis. Traditional medications like Mebendazole may provide only temporary relief and often fall short of providing a long-term solution.
A Cure?
Scientists suggest that free radicals contribute to various health problems, such as heart disease and cancer. Antioxidants play a role in neutralizing these free radicals and may lessen or even prevent the damage they can do. Cat’s Claw, a herbal remedy, is being explored as a potential solution. Initial studies indicate that cat’s claw extract may have detrimental effects on tumor and cancer cells in laboratory experiments, as well as the ability to eliminate various parasites in the human body (with a treatment duration of at least 8 weeks), but more research is necessary to confirm these results.
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