A woman is surprised to read on the Internet that certain infections can cause cancer and has sought clarification from her nurse practitioner during an office visit. How can the NP best respond to the woman’s query?
“Though it’s not particularly common, it’s true that certain bacteria and viruses can lead to cancer.”
“Most cancers that cannot be attributed to family history or lifestyle are in fact associated with viruses.”
“There are many viruses, but only a very few of them have been shown to cause cancer in humans.”
“This is true; for example, HIV has been shown to cause cancer in some patients.”
