58. Avoid Cancer Viruses
Actions can also be taken to avoid exposure to the small number of viruses that have been implicated in human cancers. A good example is the human papillomavirus (HPV). Of the more than 100 types of HPVs, over 30 types can be passed from one person to another through sexual contact. Among these, there are 13 high-risk types recognized as the major cause of cervical cancer. Having many sexual partners is a risk factor for infection with these high-risk HPVs, which can, in turn, increase the chance that mild cervical abnormalities will progress to more severe ones or to cervical cancer.
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