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FEATURED BOOKS ON KAPOSI’S SARCOMA FROM BARNES & NOBLE.COM:
WHAT IS KAPOSI’S SARCOMA?
Kaposi’s sarcoma is a type of skin cancer. Cancer is any of a large group of malignant diseases characterized by an abnormal, uncontrolled growth of new cells in one of the body organs or tissues.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF KAPOSI’S SARCOMA?
The general signs of Kaposi’s sarcoma include irregularly shaped, purple or brown spots that are slightly raised. An example is shown below:
DOES KAPOSI’S SARCOMA ONLY AFFECT THE SKIN?
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No. Although Kaposis’s sarcoma mostly affects the skin, it can affect other parts of the body such as the digestive system, lungs, heart, lymph nodes, spleen, mucous membranes, and adrenal glands. Lymph nodes are small egg shaped structures in the body that help fight against infection. The spleen is an organ next to the stomach that helps fight infection and removes and destroys worn-out red blood cells. Red blood cells are cells that help carry oxygen in the blood. A mucous membrane is one of four major types of thin sheets of tissue that line or cover various parts of the body, such as the mouth and passages for breathing.
The adrenal glands are a pair of glands that play an important role in metabolism and help the body respond to physical and emotional stress by releasing certain hormones. A gland is an organ in the body made of special cells that form and release materials such as fluid. Metabolism is the chemical actions in cells that release energy from nutrients or use energy to create other substances. Hormones are natural chemicals produced by the body and released into the blood that have a specific effect on tissues in the body. |
WHAT CAUSES KAPOSI’S SARCOMA?
Kaposi’s sarcoma is caused by a virus known as KSHV (Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus) or human herpesvirus (HHV-8).
WHO GETS KAPOSI’S SARCOMA?
In the United States, Kaposi’s sarcoma almost always occurs in people with AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). AIDS is a decrease in the effectiveness of the body's immune (defense) system that is due to infection from a virus known as HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). It is estimated that about 15% of people with AIDS will develop Kaposi’s sarcoma. However, the number of cases of Kaposi’s sarcoma has decreased with advanced anti-viral treatment, known as HAART (highly active anti-retrovirus therapy). Prior to the AIDS epidemic, Kaposi’s sarcoma was considered an extremely rare form of cancer.
Kaposi’s sarcoma is also known to occur in older Jewish or Haitian men, young native Africans, and people who have undergone kidney or heart transplants.
HOW IS KAPOSI’S SARCOMA TREATED?
Treatment for Kaposi’s sarcoma includes medications used to attack viruses (known as anti-retrovirus therapy), chemotherapy, and radiation of individual skin lesions (abnormal areas). Chemotherapy is chemical substances to kill cancer cells. Radiation is treatment of cancerous and non-cancerous conditions using high levels of energy.
WHAT ELSE IS KAPOSI’S SARCOMA KNOWN AS?
Kaposi’s sarcoma is also known as multiple idiopathic hemorrhagic sarcoma. It used to be referred to as gay man’s cancer.
WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF THE TERM, KAPOSI’S SARCOMA?
Sarcoma comes from the Greek word "sarkoma" meaning "a fleshy tumor." Kaposi comes from the Hungarian dermatologist (skin doctor), Moritz Kapsosi (1837-1902), who first described the symptoms in 1872.
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