South African cancer risks being defined by research

The Medical Research Council has recommended that all hospital blood should be screened for the human herpes virus 8. This virus is a recent discovery and has been know to cause Kaposi’s sarcoma, especially in HIV and Aids patients. The most common cancer in many African countries is Kaposi’s sarcoma. There was also a higher association between lung cancer and occupational environment in South Africa than in other countries. Alcohol consumption has also been linked to increased risk of HIV infection. HIV patients are also more prone to cancer of the vulva. Prostate cancer was the most common cancer in males of all ages. More studies are being done in South Africa to determine risk factors to enable preventative measures to be undertaken.

Source: summary of medical news story as reported by iol

Related Disease Topics:

• Cancer
• Infection
• HIV
• Aids
• Human herpes virus 8
• Virus
• Lung cancer
• Kaposi’s sarcoma
• Prostate cancer
• Cancer of the vulva

Article Source Details

About: South African cancer risks being defined by research

Date: 22 November 2004

Source: iol

URL: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=14&click_id=117&art_id=qw1101110402431B243

Related Medical Topics

This summary article refers to the following medical categories:

• Cause of cancer
• Cause of lung cancer
• Cause of Kaposi’s sarcoma
• Cause of prostate cancer
• Cause of cancer of the vulva
• Transfusion

More News Topics

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