Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection results in varying degrees of immune system suppression and brings an increased risk of cancer. Cancers most commonly associated with HIV infection are known to be caused by other associated cancer-causing viruses, including Kaposi sarcoma and the human papilloma virus (HPV), which is most commonly passed by sexual contact. The risk of other types of cancer is less common but may be increased in patients who are infected with the HIV virus, especially when an individual smokes or drinks alcohol heavily. These risks include cancers of the anus, liver, mouth and throat, lung, testicles, colon, rectum, and skin.
AIDS-Related Cancers
With a weakened immune system, individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, have a substantially higher risk of developing certain cancers than those who are virus-free. Kaposi sarcoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and cervical cancer are considered AIDS-defining cancers: Medical experts mark the development of one of those cancers as the defining point when an individual has developed acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS. Learn more about the symptoms and diagnosis of AIDS-related cancers with expert advice from Sharecare.