Contents:
- Medical Video: How to Tell if a Lymph Is Swollen : Health Tips
- People with HIV / AIDS (PLWHA) have the opportunity to develop lymph node cancer
- What are the symptoms in people with HIV / AIDS?
- How is cancer treatment in people who have HIV / AIDS?
Medical Video: How to Tell if a Lymph Is Swollen : Health Tips
Not only have to deal with this infectious disease, people with HIV / AIDS (PLWHA) are at high risk of experiencing other chronic diseases, namely cancer of the lymph nodes or lymphoma. So, how can HIV / AIDS be attacked by cancer? What are the symptoms when a patient with HIV / AIDS develops lymph node cancer?
People with HIV / AIDS (PLWHA) have the opportunity to develop lymph node cancer
There have been many studies that state that people who have low immunity or immunity - whether it's because of drugs or certain health problems - are at high risk for cancer. Therefore, it is not surprising that people who get HIV / AIDS are also high potential for cancer as well.
HIV / AIDS weakens a person's immune system, so it is very vulnerable to experiencing various infectious diseases, even chronic diseases such as cancer. In PLWHA, cancer can grow rapidly because the body does not have enough 'weapons' in its body to defend itself. This is why cancer in HIV / AIDS can be quite severe and rapidly developing.
Usually, patients with HIV / AIDS will be given treatment in the form of antiretroviral therapy, which can help the body suppress the number of HIV viruses that are developing in the body. Even so, in a recent study it was found that this method of treatment could increase the risk of people living with HIV from cancer by 40 percent. However, this of course still needs to be studied and tested further.
In several studies, it was found that lymph node cancer or lymphoma is the type of cancer that most often occurs in people living with HIV. Meanwhile, the type of lymphoma that often attacks PLWHA is Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, then it follows Hodgkin lymphoma, blood cancer (leukemia), and myeloma in the next risk sequence.
What are the symptoms in people with HIV / AIDS?
Symptoms experienced by PLWHA when attacked by lymphoma are actually almost the same as the symptoms of lymph nodes in general. Only, the difference is the severity of the symptoms experienced. Usually, people who get HIV / AIDS will experience more severe symptoms, because their immune systems are very weak. Then, what are the symptoms of this lymphoma?
- Drastic and sudden weight loss
- Have a fever without any signs of infection
- Swelling of parts of the body, especially in areas of the body with lymph glands
- Sweating at night, until the sheets are wet
Symptoms that appear will also depend on where the lymphoma occurs. For example, when cancer cells are in the lymph nodes that are in the brain, the symptoms that arise are seizures, fatigue, and headaches. Meanwhile, lymphomas that attack the digestive organs will cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain.
How is cancer treatment in people who have HIV / AIDS?
Cancer treatment received by PLWHA is also the same as other lymphoma treatments, namely chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. The challenge faced when PLWHA undergo cancer treatment is that the side effects of cancer treatment experienced will be quite severe. This is caused by PLWHA having a weak immune system.
PLWHA will be vulnerable to various infectious diseases during treatment. Not to mention, it must balance its HIV / AIDS treatment. Therefore, PLWHA with cancer must be given special care.
However, it is not impossible that the cancer treatment will be successful. Moreover, if the cancer is detected in a stage that is still early, this will increase the success of treatment. If indeed you experience various symptoms or bodily dysfunction, don't delay to see a doctor.
