Education, advocacy, training
Index 
5.12 Cryptococcal meningitis 
5.13 Cancer 
5.14 Wasting and weight loss
Glossary 
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AIDS acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
ARV anti-retroviral (treatment for HIV).
benign not harmful.
cancer disease caused by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells.
carcinoma cancer in tissues covering or lining organs of the body, such as the skin, the uterus, the lung, or the breast.
CD4 count number of CD4 cells in a drop of your blood. CD4 counts are measured in cells/mm3.
coinfection having two infections, eg HIV and TB.
diagnosis identifying the cause of an illness.
HD Hodgkins disease.
HIV human immunodeficiency virus.
KS Kaposi's sarcoma.
lipodystrophy fat loss in your arms, legs or face, or fat gain in abdomen, breasts and shoulders
lymph (or lymphatic) system vessel, nodes, organs and clear fluid, that are part of the immune system.
lymphoma cancer in the lymphatic system.
malignant dangerous.
NHL Non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
sarcoma cancer of the bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, skin or other connective tissue.
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Several important cancers are linked to HIV, and are listed as AIDS-defining illnesses. These include Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), Non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL), Hodgkins disease (HD) and cervical cancer.
Even though many other cancers occur more frequently in HIV-positive individuals compared to the general population (eg anal cancer, lung cancer, Hodgkins Disease) they have not been categorised as AIDS-defining. This may change in the future.
Some cancers (eg breast cancer) do not appear to occur at higher rates in HIV-positive people.
Cancer is a disease caused by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells.
Benign (in situ) cancers are contained to the original cells. As long as they do not spread, they are not dangerous.
Malignant cancers spread to other parts of the body and are much more serious. If the spread is not controlled, they can be fatal.
Lymphoma are cancers that develop in the lymphatic system. The most common type of lymphoma is Hodgkins disease (HD). All other lymphomas are called non-Hodgkins lymphomas (NHL).
Sarcoma are cancers of the bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, skin or other connective tissue. The most common sarcoma associated with HIV is Kaposi's sarcoma (KS).
Carcinoma is the name for a form of cancer that develops in tissues covering or lining organs of the body, such as the skin, the uterus, the lung, or the breast.
Each cancer has different characteristics, symptoms and treatment. All cancers have a better outlook if they are detected early.
Apart from KS, HIV-related cancers are the one type of illnesses that do not dramatically improve and resolve as a response to ARV therapy. This is why screening and early monitoring is important.
Many HIV-related cancers are linked to other viral infections:
Index 5.12 Cryptococcal meningitis 5.13 Cancer 5.14 Wasting and weight loss
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Last updated on Monday 26th November 2007.
