Sarcoma - Kaposi

Kaposi sarcoma occurs in less than 1% of the general population. About one in 200 transplant recipients in the United States develops the disease. Previously, approximately one in four homosexual men with HIV/AIDS developed Kaposi sarcoma. This number has decreased over recent years because of more effective treatments for HIV/AIDS.

The overall five-year survival rate (percentage of people who survive at least five years after the cancer is detected, excluding those who die from other diseases) for Kaposi sarcoma is about 67%. The three-year survival rate for people in the good-risk category (see Staging) in both the T and S factors is 90%. People in the poor-risk category in the T and S factors have a five-year survival rate of 50%. More effective treatments for HIV/AIDS are improving the survival rate both by treating the infections associated with HIV/AIDS and the Kaposi sarcoma.

Cancer survival statistics should be interpreted with caution. These estimates are based on data from thousands of people with this type of cancer, but the actual risk for a particular individual may differ. Because the survival statistics are measured in multi-year intervals, they may not represent advances made in the treatment or diagnosis of this cancer. It is not possible to tell a person how long he or she will live with Kaposi sarcoma. Learn more about understanding statistics.

Source: American Cancer Society.