From the Uganda Cancer Institute, Mulago Hospital, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
Authors’ disclosures of potential conflicts of interest are found at the end of this article.
Address reprint requests to Jackson Orem, MB, ChB, Director, Uganda Cancer Institute, Upper Mulago Rd P.O. Box 3935, Kampala Uganda; e-mail: JOrem{at}mucwru.or.ug
Overview: Cancers seen in the context of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are common in Africa. Benefits of highly active antiretroviral therapy in reducing the incidence and improving the prognosis of cancer in patients with HIV infection has not yet been realized in the region. It is envisaged that HIV care in general will improve in the region because of more funding from donors. Therefore, more cancers are expected to be seen in HIV beyond the traditional acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining malignancies.
The current health care set-up and HIV programs in Africa are not well structured for the complex management paused by the increased burden of HIV malignancies. This requires policy and specific funding toward HIV-related cancers in Africa. A program approach is suggested with objectives of research, treatment, and capacity building. The goals should be that of preventing cancer in the HIV population and improving the outcome among patients already with cancer. The outcome of such a program would be a reduced incidence of disease, enhanced quality of life, and survival of patients with HIV and cancer as a complication in Africa.
