What kinds of cancer do people with HIV usually get?
In the past, people with HIV often got three types of cancer: Kaposi’s Sarcoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and cervical cancer (in women). These are called AIDS-related cancers because they occur more often in people whose immune systems have been weakened by HIV/AIDS. Here are some facts about these cancers: • Kaposi’s Sarcoma This cancer grows into reddish-purple patches on your skin that cannot kill you. It can be deadly if it gets in your throat or lungs. A herpes virus causes Kaposi’s Sarcoma. • Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma This cancer usually starts in the lymph glands, which are part of your immune system and help fight off disease. Lymph glands are mainly in the neck, under the arms, in the groin, and inside the belly. Epstein-Barr Virus is a risk factor for this cancer. • Invasive cervical cancer This affects the cervix, the entrance from the vagina to the uterus. Almost all women who get cervical cancer also have HPV. Having HIV and HPV makes cervical cancer grow faster.
