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- This is a form of cancer that, until recently, was only seen in elderly men of Mediterranean descent. In those individuals, it is a slow growing, non-aggressive disease. After the AIDS epidemic, it became a very common cancer in homosexuals with AIDS. It is also much more aggressive in patients with AIDS, and is theorized that there is a sexually transmitted co-factor (possibly a type of Herpes Virus) that increases the likelihood of developing Kaposi's Sarcoma in those with AIDS.
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- Purple or dark nodules on the skin or mucous membranes (e.g., lips)
- Shortness of breath if the lungs are involved
- Coughing of blood (Hemoptysis)
- Vomiting blood (hematemesis) or the passing of bloody stool (hematochezia) from the rectum if the gastrointestinal tract is involved
- Yellow skin or eyes if the biliary tract/gall bladder becomes involved
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- Biopsy of skin lesion
- Bronchoscopy if lung lesions are suspected.
- Chest X-Ray may show bilateral infiltrates and pleural effusions
- Endoscopy or Colonoscopy may be performed to diagnose gastrointestinal involvement
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- If less aggressive, no treatment may be needed (even in some persons with AIDS, this disease may be less aggressive)
- Chemotherapy agents that may be considered:
- Etoposide
- Vinblastine
- Doxorubicin
- Bleomycin
- IFN-alpha
- Local treatment of lesions may be considered -- e.g., freezing (Cryotherapy), interlesion injections, or lasers
- Radiation treatment may be used if there is lung involvement
- Immunotherapy may be tried
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- As stated above, there seems to be an independent risk from sexual relations of acquiring this disease. Condoms may help to prevent this disease.
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