Study Links Flu, Covid-19 to Cancer Recurrence

Scientists found that common viruses like the flu and Covid-19 might wake up sleeping cancer cells in the body.

These cells can stay hidden for years after treatment.

When infected with these viruses, the body makes a protein called IL-6 that helps cancer cells grow.

The study used mice and looked at human health records.

People who had cancer before and got Covid-19 were more likely to die from cancer.

Doctors think this explains why more people died from cancer during the pandemic.

They suggest protecting cancer survivors from infections and watching them closely even years after treatment.