A risk factor is anything that increases a person’s chance of developing cancer. Some risk factors can be controlled, such as smoking, and some cannot be controlled, such as age and family history. Although risk factors can influence the development of cancer, most do not directly cause cancer. Some people with several risk factors never develop cancer, while others with no known risk factors do. However, knowing your risk factors and communicating them to your doctor may help you make more informed lifestyle and health-care choices.
The following factors may raise a person’s risk of developing an HIV/AIDS-related cancer:
Human papillomavirus infection. Research indicates that infection with this virus is a risk factor for cervical cancer. HPV is most commonly passed from person to person during sexual activity. There are different types, or strains, of HPV, and some strains are more strongly associated with certain types of cancers. Factors that raise the risk of becoming infected with HPV include becoming sexually active at an early age, having many partners (or having sex with a person who has had many partners), and having sex with a man who has penile warts.
HHV-8 infection. HHV-8 is related to other herpes viruses, such as the viruses that cause cold sores and genital herpes, as well as cytomegalovirus (CMV). Other herpes viruses, however, are not the same as HHV-8 and are not thought to be risk factors for cancer. HHV-8 infection is associated with primary effusion lymphoma and Kaposi’s sarcoma (see Overview).
Epstein Barr virus (EBV) infection. EBV is a herpes-related virus that causes mononucleosis. It is also associated with primary central nervous system lymphoma, high-grade B-cell lymphoma, and primary effusion lymphoma.
Last Updated: June 25, 2009
