As early as the 1980’s, the possible link between HIV positivity and malignant cancers has been known. Those demographics which were seen to have particularly low or compromised immune systems, were also seen to have higher than normal levels of cervical cancer, Kaposi sarcoma, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
And now a new study has examined the prevalence of cancer among HIV positive individuals and has examined his link further.
A large amount of data regarding HIV patients in Germany and the incidence of cancer among them was examined to arrive at the findings of the study which was published in a recent issue of the Deutsches Ärzteblatt International.
Since the early days when the link between AIDS and cancer became evident, there have been different kinds of cancers that have become associated with reduced immunity – it is now cancers such as lung cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, anal carcinoma and skin cancer that are seen to be associated with those who are HIV positive.
Since outcomes for HIV patients with cancer are usually seen to be very poor, it is recommended that those who are found to be HIV positive should also routinely be screened for tumors.
