People living with HIV who are current or former heavy smokers may be at high risk for lung cancer and could benefit from regular screening, according to the Forum of International Respiratory Societies. People with HIV may have impaired cancer-fighting immune function, even if they’re on treatment, and studies have shown that they are more likely to develop several types of cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for HIV-positive people in the United States and worldwide, as it is for HIV-negative people. What’s more, people living with HIV are more likely to smoke than those who are HIV-negative. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual lung cancer screening using low-dose CT scans for people ages 50 to 80 who have at least a 20 pack-year smoking history. A recent study found that people living with HIV tend to develop lung cancer at a younger age and with a less extensive smoking history than those in the general population, suggesting that people with HIV may benefit from earlier screening.
Concerns: Lung Cancer
People living with HIV are more likely to smoke than those who are HIV-negative.
Comments
Comments