Which treatments are used for Kaposi's sarcoma?
This page tells you about treatment for Kaposi's sarcoma. There is information on
Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a rare type of cancer that develops from cells called endothelial cells. KS growths are called lesions or tumours. External lesions on the skin are the most common. But it can also involve internal organs such as the lymph nodes, lung, bowel, liver and spleen. KS develops in a different way to many other types of cancers. Most cancers begin in one place in the body and may then spread to other places. KS can start in several areas of the body at the same time.
How KS is treated depends on
- How severe it is
- The size and location of the lesions
- The type of KS
- Your general health
The four main types of KS are
Classic KS
This type of KS is very rare and is only found on the skin, mainly on the lower legs and feet. It is most common in older men of Jewish, middle Eastern or Mediterranean origin. It is a slow growing cancer and does not usually cause any problems apart from the appearance of the lesions. In the early stages, it doesn't usually need treatment. If the lesions are large and in very visible areas on the body then you may have radiotherapy to get rid of them. Or your doctor may suggest freezing the areas with liquid nitrogen.Endemic or African KS
This type of KS is found in parts of Africa. It is faster growing than classic KS. It is more common in men, but women and children of all ages may develop it. You have chemotherapy for this type of KS.Transplant related KS
This type of KS is very rare and is most common in people who have weakened or damaged immune systems. People who have had an organ transplant operation may develop it because they take medicines that suppress the immune system. Reducing the immunosuppressive drugs usually improves it. But this might not be possible in people who have had a transplant.AIDS related KS
This is the most common type of KS. It tends to grow faster than the other types. If you have AIDS, your immune system is weakened, which increases your risk of developing KS.The treatment you have depends very much on how well you are and whether or not you can cope with the side effects of treatment. You may have chemotherapy. Or you may have interferon. The side effects of interferon can be quite severe. Foscarnet is an anti herpes drug that doctors are testing for this type of KS.
Kaposi's sarcoma nodules or lesions in the skin usually start out very small and flat. They do not cause any pain or itching and seem harmless. They look quite like a bruise, but do not lose their colour when pressed, as a bruise does. As they grow, they may start to stick up above the surrounding skin and grow into each other giving the appearance of patchwork. The lesions may be in different colours such as brown, blue, red or deep purple. They may grow very slowly and show no changes for a few months. But some grow more quickly, with new lesions appearing weekly.
Internal KS lesions can grow in body organs, such as the lymph nodes or lungs. The symptoms you have depend on which organs are affected. If KS is in the lymph nodes, which is common in AIDS related KS, you may have some swelling of your arms and legs called lymphoedema. KS cells block the flow of lymph fluid through the lymphatic system. So tissue fluid backs up and causes swelling. It can be very painful and uncomfortable. There is no cure for this, but treatment can help to control lymphoedema. The earlier it is picked up and treated, the easier it is to control, so if you have any swelling that you think may be lymphoedema, do let your doctor know.
You usually have chemotherapy if the KS has spread throughout your body. You will probably have a combination of two or more of these drugs
Click on the above links to find out about the specific side effects of these drugs. There is more information about chemotherapy and its side effects in the main chemotherapy section of CancerHelp UK.
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