Skin Cancer And Hiv Aids

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What Is AIDS?

AIDS-related symptoms also include serious weight loss, brain tumors, and other health problems. Without treatment, these opportunistic infections can kill you. The official (technical) CDC definition of AIDS is available at www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00018871.htm . AIDS is different in every infected person. A few people may die in a few months after getting infected, but most live fairly normal lives for many years, even after they...

Ask the Experts

Malignant skin cancer; is this AIDS?

My daughter has been diagnosed with malignant skin cancer. More tests are pending. She is worried about AIDS because of a stupid relationship with a promisicious needle user. What are the initial symptoms of AIDS?...

Response from Bruce Dezube, M.D.

Harvard Medical School

There are many forms of malignant skin cancer; some are worse than others. What type does your daughter have? Although some skin cancers are related to HIV/AIDS, most skin cancers are not. If you are (or she is) concerned about HIV infection,... Read more »

HIV and skin cancer-- are there special precautions?

Are there special precautions someone with HIV should take in gaurding against skin cancer, and are there any interactions between HIV drugs and the sun? Thank you....

Response from Bruce Dezube, M.D.

Harvard Medical School

Every human being, whether HIV positive or negative, should take precautions against skin cancer by avoiding overexposure to the sun-- avoiding the beach at high noon, using sunblockers, caps/hats, and so on. HIV infected folks are particularly... Read more »

HIV & skin cancer; Are they related?

I have been HIV for 17 years, and still not on meds. VL around 60,000 for the past 10 years and CD4's around 300 for the past 10 years. 7 years ago, I had a melanoma on my forearm which was removed. This year I had my second one on my cheek....

Response from Bruce Dezube, M.D.

Harvard Medical School

Wow! That sure is alot of skin cancer, and of all the major varieties-- melanoma, basal cell, and squamous. The answer to your question as to whether the skin cancers are related to your HIV disease is "Yes and No". Most patients with... Read more »

HIV negative, but AIDS related cancer

I first suspected that I was HIV positive in 1995 due to persistent swollen lymph nodes. However, my ELISA test was negative. I was told about the 6 month window period, so I tested again 6 and 14 months later - still negative. Currently I am...

Response from Bruce Dezube, M.D.

Harvard Medical School

Although it's impossible to give you a firm diagnosis without seeing your lesions, I would doubt very much that you have AIDS-related cancer if you are HIV negative. You need to see a dermatologist or other health care provider. You may need to... Read more »

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just found out dad has hiv/aids

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

Hello to all of you out there, and thank you in advance for any advice or help you might give me.

I have just learned, somewhat inadvertently, that my dad is HIV positive. I suspect that he has full blown AIDS now that the HIV has been confirmed. He... Read more »

HIV/AIDS Lipoatrophy (Facial Wasting)

Posted by bradford, 2 Replies

HIV/AIDS Lipoatrophy (Facial Wasting)

Individuals living with HIV and AIDS may not only have to deal with the threat of illness but the toll of illness. All that is required to stay healthy and alive can leave an everlasting mark! I'm referring to... Read more »

HIV/AIDS drugs saved my life!

Posted by bradford

HIV/AIDS drugs saved my life!

From the time I was told I had six months to live by an AIDS specialist in 1985, I learned from other people infected with HIV and included supplements and complementary therapies. These kept me healthy and were... Read more »

Diagnosed with HIV and AIDS at the same time!!!!

Posted by icantbelieve, 9 Replies

Last April, viral load over 500.000 and cd4 count 191. Overwhelming. I've been sad, lonely, on meds, always tired, lost weight, appetite, no one knows, live away from my family, no partner, with an infection on my skin since April that impairs my... Read more »

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