November 19, 2008

Cancer Risk Doubled in People With HIV

Rates of cancers of the lungs, liver, head and neck in people living with HIV are twice that of their HIV-negative counterparts, according to a new study presented at the seventh annual American Association for Cancer Research International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Research and reported by the Baltimore Sun.

Researchers have known since the early days of the epidemic that certain types of cancers, such as lymphomas and Kaposi’s sarcoma, are much more common in people with HIV, especially those with weakened immune systems. More recently, however, reports have emerged that non-AIDS-related cancers may also occur more frequently in people with HIV.

According to the Sun, Meredith Shiels, a doctoral candidate from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and her colleagues examined the medical records of patients being treated at the university’s hospital. They found that certain cancers that hadn’t previously been linked to HIV occurred twice as frequently in people with HIV, compared with HIV-negative patients.

The Sun also spoke with Mark Wainberg, director of the McGill University AIDS Center in Montreal, who said that previous studies have shown that anal, head, neck and cervical cancers are up to 10 times more common in people with HIV. Lung cancer, according to the Sun, has also been found at elevated rates in people with HIV.

Researchers don’t yet know why certain cancers are more common in people with HIV.

Search: lung cancer, liver cancer, head and neck, cancer, anal cancer, Meredith Shiels, Johns Hopkins University, Mark Wainberg, McGill University

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Previous Comments:

Greg H., Modesto, CA, 2008-11-28 00:53:12
Murph, 23+ years of "knowing" for me too, and couldn't agree more. I do wish that someone could have told me to save my money for retiremnt though.

Murph, Port Townsend, 2008-11-26 12:46:50
After 23 years with HIV, it's amazing how differently I find myself reacting to threats of my imminent demise, whether from cancer or from other threats. I am sure going to make the most of life; what an incredible ride it has been, what an incredible gift...

Ulong, Atlanta, GA, 2008-11-25 11:13:35
"More recently, however, reports have emerged that non-AIDS-related cancers may also occur more frequently in people with HIV." Um, wouldn't that make them AIDS-related cancers? How long until the CDC or anyone else to classifies these as AIDS-related? I'm tired of watching my friends die in their 40's and 50's, while people blabber on about how we have a normal life expectancy.