Corona and flu infections may play a role in the recurrence of cancer in previously recovered patients. The viruses have been shown, at least in mice, to be able to reactivate "dormant" breast cancer cells that have settled in the lungs,

Certain respiratory infections could trigger a reawakening of dormant cancer cells in the body, according to a new study.

Mice with a handful of cancerous cells in their lungs experienced a 100-fold increase to this number after being infected with swine flu

Hidden in the lungs of some breast cancer survivors are tumour cells that can remain dormant for decades — until they one day trigger a relapse. Now, experiments in mice show that these rogue cells can be roused from their slumber by common respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19 or the flu.