Kaposi's Sarcoma Treatment & Symptom
Kaposi's sarcoma is a cancer that causes patches of abnormal tissue to grow under the skin, in the lining of the mouth, nose, and throat or in other organs. KS causes red or purple patches (lesions) on the skin and/or mucous membranes and spreads to other organs in the body, such as the lungs, liver, or intestinal tract. Until the early 1980s, Kaposi's sarcoma was a very rare disease found mainly in older men, patients who had organ transplants and African men. When the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic spread in the early 1980s, doctors began to notice more cases of Kaposi's sarcoma in Africa and in gay men with AIDS in the United States and other countries. Kaposi's sarcoma usually spreads more quickly in patients with AIDS. If there are signs of KS, a doctor will examine the skin and lymph nodes carefully. Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped structures that are found throughout the body. They produce and store infection-fighting cells. The doctor also may recommend other tests to see if the patient has other diseases.The chance of recovery depends on what type of Kaposi's sarcoma you have, your age and general health, and whether or not you have AIDS. Although KS often responds well to treatment, recurrent disease is common. This means that KS will likely recur after it has been treated. It may come back in the area where it first started or in another part of the body.
Kaposi's sarcoma is a tumor caused by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), also known as human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8). Kaposi sarcoma (KS) was named for Dr. Moritz Kaposi who first described it in 1872. For decades KS was considered a rare disease that mostly affected elderly men of Mediterranean or Jewish heritage, organ transplant patients, or young adult African men. --It can appear as classic KS, or in a more deadly form that quickly spreads to tissues below the skin, the bones and lymph system, leading to death within a few years of diagnosis. Another form of KS, iatrogenic KS, is observed in kidney and liver transplant patients who take immunosuppressive drugs to prevent rejection of their organ transplant. Iatrogenic KS usually reverses after the immunosuppressive drug is stopped. The fourth form of KS, AIDS-related KS, emerged as one of the first illnesses observed among those with AIDS. Unlike classic KS, AIDS-related KS tumors generally appear on the upper body, including the head, neck, and back.
Causes of Kaposi's Sarcoma
Common Causes of Kaposi's Sarcoma :
- HIV infection.
- Drugs that suppress the immune system.
- Men who have sex with men, and women who have sex with bisexual men.
Symptoms of Kaposi's Sarcoma
Some common Symptoms of Kaposi's Sarcoma :
- Shortness of breath with pulmonary (lung) lesions.
- Bluish-red macule or papule with an irregular shape.
- Bleeding with gastrointestinal lesions.
Treatment of Kaposi's Sarcoma
- Antiretroviral therapy is used to directly combat HIV and restore immune function in patients with AIDS. May be highly effective against KS in some patients.
- Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells, which may be given in many forms including pill, injection, and via a catheter. The drugs enter the bloodstream and travel through the body killing mostly cancer cells, but also some healthy cells. In some cases, chemotherapeutic agents can be injected directly into a KS lesion.
- Surgery
- Radiation is used to kill cancer cells; indications are the same as for surgery. Generally, radiation therapy is delivered once or in divided doses over 2-3 weeks. The number of radiation treatments necessary will depend on the size and location of the lesions.
- Also called biological response modifier therapy, this is the use of medications or substances made by the body to increase or restore the body's natural defenses against cancer.
- Immune stimulation .
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