HIV and cancer are interlinked. People with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection or AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) are more likely to develop some types of cancer than people who are not infected because HIV weakens a person’s immune system. This may contribute to developing certain types of cancers, including cervical cancer, Kaposi sarcoma, and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

AIDS-Defining Cancers and Their Causes and Symptoms

Kaposi Sarcoma

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) reveals that people with HIV are 500 times more likely to develop Kaposi sarcoma. It is a blood vessel cancer and causes lesions in lymph nodes, skin, lungs, liver, digestive tract, and spleen. Antiretroviral therapy and maintaining a healthy immune system can reduce the risk of Kaposi sarcoma.

Causes

Kaposi sarcoma is caused by human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8). The virus spreads through physical contact and saliva.

Symptoms

The symptoms of Kaposi sarcoma include the following:

• Unexplained cough or chest pain
• Slightly elevated brown, pink, red, or purple bumps or blotches in the mouth, throat, or the skin
• Diarrhea or blockage of the digestive tract caused by lesions developed in the gastrointestinal system
• Unexplained stomach or intestinal pain
• Lymphedema (Swelling in an arm or leg)

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL)

According to NCI, people with HIV are 12 times more likely to develop Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Lymphoma begins when cells in the lymphatic system grow uncontrollably and form a tumor. There are many types of NHL, but people with HIV/ AIDS may develop these types:

• Primary central nervous system lymphoma affects the brain
• Aggressive B-cell lymphomas
• Primary effusion lymphoma, causing fluid to accumulate in the abdomen or around the lungs or heart

Causes

The Epstein-Barr virus causes NHL.

Symptoms

NHL generally has the following symptoms:

• Enlarged spleen or liver
• Fatigue
• Sudden weight loss
• Enlarged lymph nodes in the groin, neck, underarms, or abdomen
• Sweating and chills
• Unexplained fever

Cervical Cancer

NCI reveals that women with HIV are three times more likely to develop cervical cancer. Specifically, women have an increased risk of developing cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), which is a precancerous growth of cells in the cervix.

Causes

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection causes cervical cancer.

Symptoms

Symptoms of cervical cancer are:

• Increased vaginal discharge
• Abnormal menstrual bleeding
• Bleeding after menopause
• Pain during intercourse
• Bleeding after douching, intercourse, or a pelvic examination

Other less common cancers that people with HIV/ AIDS may develop are:

• Lung cancer
• Liver cancer
• Anal cancer
• Hodgkin lymphoma
• Skin cancer
• Angiosarcoma
• Testicular cancer
• Mouth and throat cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Penile cancer

How to Reduce Your Cancer Risk?

Follow these tips to reduce your HIV/ AIDS-related cancer risk.

• Take Your HIV Medicine

HIV reduces the count of CD4+ T-cells that help fight infection. Take your medication as prescribed to increase your cell count and reduce your risk of cancers such as Kaposi sarcoma and lymphoma.

• Be Aware of Other Viruses

  A person with both HIV and hepatitis virus is more likely to develop liver cancer. However, there are antiviral drugs that can control hepatitis and HIV. Consult with your doctor on what is best for your care.

• Quit Smoking

  Smoking causes lung cancers and increases the risk of developing other cancers such as head, neck, and cervical cancer. Also, it can cause health conditions such as cardiovascular disease and emphysema. Lung cancer increases cancer-related deaths in people with HIV, so quit smoking to reduce your risk.

• Regular Screenings

  Cancer is manageable, and its treatment can be effective if it is diagnosed at an early stage. Therefore, people with HIV should have regular cancer screenings, especially if they notice any cancer symptoms. People living with HIV should follow the same procedure for screening colon and breast cancers as people without HIV. Annual digital rectal examinations should also be conducted to detect anal cancer at an early stage.

• Cancer Treatment

  If you have HIV and are diagnosed with cancer, it is essential to find an experienced oncologist specializing in treating your cancer for the best results. The treatment for cancer in people with HIV and without HIV would be the same. According to a Hodgkin lymphoma study, the overall survival rate was the same when patients received the same chemotherapy treatment despite having an HIV infection.

Call us or visit our website today to schedule an appointment if you are looking for experienced oncologists in Maryland.

FAQs

1. Do people infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) have an increased risk of cancer?

Yes! According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), compared to the general population, people infected with HIV have an increased risk for:

• AIDS-Defining Cancers

HIV-infected people diagnosed with any of these cancers indicate they also have AIDS.

• Non-AIDS-Defining Cancers

While increasing your risk for cancer, HIV infection also increases your risk of dying from cancer.

2. Why might people infected with HIV have a higher risk of some types of cancer?

HIV infection weakens the immune system, reducing the body’s ability to combat viral infections and diseases, thus leading to cancers. These lifestyle factors can also increase one’s risk for cancer:

• Smoking - Significantly increases a person’s risk of developing lung cancer
• Sharing Needles - Increases the risk of contracting hepatitis B and C virus, leading to liver cancer.
• Heavy Alcohol Use - Results in cellular changes that increase the risk for liver cancer.

3. Has the introduction of antiretroviral therapy reduced the cancer risk of people infected with HIV?

The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), also known as combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), has reduced the incidence of some cancers in HIV-infected people, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Kaposi sarcoma. This has been possible due to cART lowering the amount of HIV circulation in the blood, thus allowing partial restoration of the immune system to combat viruses that cause these cancers. Though the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Kaposi sarcoma is low among HIV-infected people, it is still higher compared to the general population.

Also, HIV-infected people are not receiving adequate antiretroviral therapy due to being unaware of the infection or have difficulties accessing medical care. While decreasing AIDS-related deaths, the cART has not reduced the incidence of all HIV-related cancers. In fact, HIV-infected people still have an increased risk for non-AIDS-defining cancers, including liver and anal cancers.

A critical reason for the rise of non-AIDS-defining cancer cases is that cART has reduced AIDS-related deaths. Thus the HIV-infected population has increased and aged with time. Persons aged above 40 comprise the fastest-growing population of HIV-infected patients. Such persons are now not only developing cancers common to this age group but also have an increased cumulative susceptibility to HIV-associated cancers.

4 . What can people infected with HIV do to reduce their risk of cancer or find cancer early?

• Taking cART lowers the risk of Kaposi sarcoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma and increases the overall survival rate.
• Quit smoking to reduce the risk of lung, oral, and other cancers.
• HIV-infected individuals should know their hepatitis virus status, as it can increase the risk of liver cancer.
• HIV-infected women have an increased risk for cervical cancer, so it is essential to be screened regularly for this condition.
• The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends HIV-infected men and women up to 26 years get vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV).
• Some researchers recommend taking an anal Pap test to detect and treat lesions before they become cancerous. However, NCI is still researching this to determine whether this screening benefits all HIV-infected people or treating such lesions prevents anal cancer.

Also Read- What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Cervical Cancer Among Women?