CANSA encourages people living with HIV to know their cancer risk On World AIDS Day (1 December), the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), National Department of Health, National Cancer Registry (NCR) and Southern African HIV Clinicians Society highlight that the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a cancer-causing agent and can put people living with HIV at risk for cancer. Dr Melissa Wallace, Head of Research at CANSA, says “With just over 7 million South Africans living with HIV, it’s important that the increased risk of cancer in people with HIV (PLWH) is recognised as a real concern. Dedicated antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, adopting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise and cutting out tobacco and alcohol are resulting in PLWH living a healthy and full life. CANSA wants to encourage PLWH to reduce their cancer risk and know the signs and symptoms of the most common cancers affecting PLWH as early detection improves treatment outcomes.” www.cansa.org.za

1. CANSA
encourages
people living
with HIV to know
their cancer risk
www.cansa.org.za
Toll free 0800 22 66 22
072 197 9305
071 867 3530
English,
Xhosa, Zulu,
Afrikaans
Sotho, Siswati
#HIVAndCancer

2. On World AIDS Day (1 December),
the Cancer Association of South
Africa (CANSA), National
Department of Health, National
Cancer Registry (NCR) and
Southern African HIV Clinicians
Society highlight that the human
immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) is a
cancer-causing agent and can put
people living with HIV at risk for
cancer

3. www.cansa.org.za
Toll free 0800 22 66 22
CANSA encourages people living
with HIV to know their cancer risk
 With just over 7 million South Africans living with HIV, it’s
important that the increased risk of cancer in people
living with HIV (PLWH) is recognised as a real concern
 CANSA wants to encourage PLWH to reduce their cancer risk and
know the signs and symptoms of the most common cancers affecting
PLWH as early detection improves treatment outcomes
 It is important for those living with HIV as well as health-
care providers to be aware of the symptoms of cancer,
as early detection improves treatment outcomes

4. www.cansa.org.za
Toll free 0800 22 66 22
People living with HIV are at higher risk of
AIDS-defining cancers:*
 Kaposi sarcoma
 Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
 Conjunctival cancer (growth on surface of eyes)
 Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin
 Human papillomavirus (HPV) related cancers
which include cervical, penile, anal and
vulvar cancer
* Dhokotera, T., Bohlius, J., Spoerri, A., Egger, M., Ncayiyana, J., Olago, V., Singh, E. and Sengayi, M., 2019. The burden of
cancers associated with HIV in the South African public health sector, 2004–2014
CANSA encourages people living
with HIV to know their cancer risk

5. www.cansa.org.za
Toll free 0800 22 66 22
Common symptoms of
HIV related cancers
Kaposi sarcoma:
Slightly elevated purple/pink (on white skin); brown/black (on darker
toned skins); or red blotches or bumps anywhere on the skin or in the
mouth and/or throat; swelling of the legs; caused by a blockage of
the lymphatic system
Cervical cancer:
May have no symptoms in early stages; increased
vaginal discharge; maybe foul-smelling discharge;
pain or bleeding during sexual intercourse

6. www.cansa.org.za
Toll free 0800 22 66 22
Common symptoms of
HIV related cancers
Hodgkin’s & non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma:
Painless, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin;
persistent fatigue, fever, night sweats; unexplained weight loss
Conjunctival cancer:
A white, painless, progressive growth on the
surface of the eye; may have associated photo-
phobia, redness of the eye, irritation and foreign
body sensation

7. www.cansa.org.za
Toll free 0800 22 66 22
Common symptoms of
HIV related cancers
Anal cancer:
May have no symptoms in early stages; blood or mucous in stools
(faeces) or on toilet paper; itching; discomfort or pain around the
anus; a feeling of fullness, discomfort or pain in the rectum; a lump
near the edge of the anus; ulcers around the anus
Vulvar cancer:
Thickening / roughness of the skin of the vulva; itching,
pain or burning; lump/open sore on the vulva;
bleeding/discharge not related to the normal
menstrual period

8. www.cansa.org.za
Toll free 0800 22 66 22
Common symptoms of
HIV related cancers
Penile cancer:
A growth or sore on the penis that does not heal in 4 weeks;
bleeding from the penis or foul-smelling discharge from under
the foreskin; thickening or discolouration of the skin on the penis
Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin:
A wart-like skin growth, or a persistent, scaly red
patch with irregular borders that may bleed easily;
an open sore that persists for weeks; a raised growth
with a rough surface and a central depression

9. www.cansa.org.za
Toll free 0800 22 66 22
Lower Personal Cancer Risk & Promote
Early Detection
 People living with HIV should initiate antiretroviral therapy (ART) early
and adhere to ART to lower the risk of Kaposi sarcoma and non-
Hodgkin’s lymphoma
 Additionally, cervical cancer screening in HIV-positive women should
be done at HIV diagnosis, and every 3 years (yearly if screening test is
positive) according to recommendations of the SA Cervical Cancer
Policy
 Adopting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, safe
sex and cutting out tobacco, alcohol and unsafe
sun exposure can also result in PLWH living a healthy
and full life

10. www.cansa.org.za
Toll free 0800 22 66 22
Cancer screening at CANSA Care Centres
CANSA encourages screening as early diagnosis allows more effective
treatment. CANSA Care Centres country-wide offer screening at
affordable rates:
 Pap smears (liquid based cervical cancer test)
 Skin examinations using a FotoFinder to examine moles
 Clinical Breast Examinations
 Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood tests to
assist in detecting prostate abnormalities

11. www.cansa.org.za
Toll free 0800 22 66 22
Help CANSA expand its screening, educational and
care & support programmes, please consider
making a donation at any of our CANSA Care
Centres country-wide or
Online at http://www.cansa.org.za/personal-donation-options/
or Make a donation via
Snapscan or Zapper apps
on your smartphone:
What can you do to help?

12. Credits:
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Disclaimer
Whilst the Cancer Association of South Africa
(CANSA) has taken every precaution in compiling
this presentation, neither it, nor any contributor(s) to
this presentation can be held responsible for any
action (or the lack thereof) taken by any person or
organisation wherever they shall be based, as a
result, direct or otherwise, of information contained
in, or accessed through, this presentation.
www.cansa.org.za | Toll free 0800 22 66 22