Are cancer and HIV related?

Is it true that someone will get cancer because of being HIV positive? Saulo

Dear Saulo,
Our bodies are made up of cells which divide and grow to replace worn out or dead cells. In cancer cases, cells divide and grow when they are not required and move on to invade nearby tissues or others far away in the body. This is different from HIV infection in which the body is made sick after being infected with an HIV virus.

Cancer has become more common these days because of the lifestyle we live such as eating too much fat, salt, sugar, drug and alcohol abuse, smoking and living a sedentary lifestyle. Also, exposure to pollutants and chemicals and certain viral or bacterial infections have increased the likelihood of cancer. Longstanding Helicobacter pylori bacterial infection increases the risk of stomach cancer, while Human Papilloma viruses increase the risk of cervical, anal, penile and throat cancers.

It is also true that people with HIV/Aids have an increased risk of developing Kaposi sarcoma, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and cervical cancer.
Infection with HIV weakens the immune system which keeps surveillance over the cell changes that lead to cancer and also reduces the body’s ability to fight infections that may lead to cancer. People with HIV commonly try to drown their sorrows by smoking, drinking alcohol and taking drugs all of which may expose them to liver and lung cancers. The introduction of antiretroviral therapy (and immunisation of HPV or Hepatitis B) has, however, led to reduction of HIV associated cancers.

Changes in lifestyle can also help reduce incidents of cancer. These include regular physical activity and resorting to our previous diets of the starchy staple foods, fruits and vegetables, low intakes of animal products, fat, salt and sugar, avoiding too much alcohol and not smoking. Though it may be difficult, one should also avoid exposure to pollutants and chemicals.

What is the cause of my scars?

I have a burn-like scar on my rib cage which my sister attributes to being ‘burnt by twins’. However, I am 23-years-old and a virgin. So, what are twin burns? Annet

Dear Annet,
A burn without fire has nothing to do with twins but could be due to a skin reaction called eczema, or even shingles; a reactivation of a herpes varicella virus which causes chicken pox.
Eczema is an allergic skin reaction and may happen in those with other body allergic reactions.

However, it is more likely that you may have had chicken pox when younger which healed on the surface but some germs remained hiding in the nerves only to be reactivated by a trigger such as drugs given for allergies, diabetes, reduced body immunity, stress and overwork.

Shingles can be treated by taking antiviral drugs but requires addressing immediately the first few blisters appear or when one starts feeling pain in the area before blisters appear. You should see a doctor for further evaluation.

How to check for breast cancer

While shaving last year, I noticed a boil in my armpit. I consulted a doctor who did a biopsy and the results showed that I had breast cancer. Why did previous tests not show the cancer? Zebby

Dear Zebby,
Screening for breast cancer through self-examination or a doctor’s examination as well as x-rays called mammograms are essential in catching the cancer early before there are signs or symptoms.
Usually, breast cancer spreads to the armpit lymph nodes first, the reason you may have been told you had cancer of the breast in the armpit.

Inflammatory breast cancer which usually affects young women may look just like an infected skin hence being difficult to detect early. It has no breast lump from which women or doctors usually suspect breast cancer and check for it making it even more difficult to suspect from self-examination or examination by doctors or even on routine mammograms. It also spreads rapidly so that it may occur and spread to the armpit before next scheduled check-up visits.

Also, nipples or breast tissue may appear in the armpit, abdomen, vulva, buttocks or even thigh along the so-called milk line as found in some animals from which we evolved. The breast tissue here rarely produces milk or grows bigger until puberty, during pregnancy or when breastfeeding.

In a few cases still, the abnormal breast tissue may produce milk, get infected to form boils (breast abscesses) or even develop breast cancer before even a doctor’s examinations indicates cancer.
So, your doctor did a commendable job of cutting and sending the armpit tissue for examination but if he had thrown it away then it would have spelt more diagnostic disaster.