How are AIDS and Cancer related?
Cancer occurs due to the abnormal division and growth of the body cells. An immune system that functions normally acts to suppress this abnormal growth, but AIDS is a condition that damages our immune system. This disrupts the ability of the body to keep infections under control and to stop some cancers from growing. Thus, the patients with AIDS are at an increased risk to cancer. There are few types of cancers known as “AIDS-defining cancers” like Kaposi’s Sarcoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and cervical cancer (in women), as they are more common in people with AIDS than in people without it. Patients with AIDS are also at risk of other “non-AIDS-defining” cancers like lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and prostate cancer.
Early Symptoms
It is very important for patients with AIDS to keep a check on the early symptoms of cancer as early detection is the key to recovery. Any abnormal change in the body which persists for a few weeks, like the following, should be brought under the notice of a medical practitioner:
- Lump or swelling
- Unexplained pain
- Unexplained bleeding
- Fever and night sweats
- Unexplained weight loss
- An unhealing sore
- Abnormal bowel habits
Risk Reduction
The risk to cancer can be reduced, treatment can be made more effective and AIDS can also be managed at the same time, by making healthy choices like:
- Quitting smoking
- Taking all your medications on schedule and not skipping doses
- Taking personal care to protect yourself from getting infections
- Eating healthy food and drinking plenty of water
- Staying a healthy weight by exercising regularly
- Avoiding drugs and alcohol
- Protecting yourself from the sun
Finding cancer at its early stage and getting immediate treatment can raise your chances of living longer with AIDS. The treatment for cancer works just as well for patients with AIDS as HIV-negative people.