This condition can lead to diabetes mellitus, which is linked to cardiovascular disease as well. In the meantime, patients should consider reducing risk factors like smoking and obesity, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. The development of these cancers, rare in the general population, is associated with immune suppression. For example, these same cancers are usually seen in transplant patients taking immunosuppressive drugs. Of note, these cancers are virus-associated.
Research indicates that in most cases, combining the therapies is safe.
Also, some protease inhibitors may produce toxicity when combined with infusional cancer chemotherapy regimens. Patients and physicians must be aware of the risks for developing certain kinds of cancer. Preventive screening, such as the Pap test, has been proven to lower the incidence of cervical cancer in women. Likewise, an increasing number of HIV-treating physicians are beginning to use the Pap test to screen for precancerous lesions that can lead to anal squamous cell cancer in both men and women. With cancers such as these, early intervention is key to survival.