What is the survival rate of Kaposi sarcoma?

Survival rates can give you an idea of what percentage of people with the same type and stage of cancer are still alive a certain amount of time (usually 5 years) after they were diagnosed….5-year relative survival rates for Kaposi sarcoma.

SEER Stage 5-Year Relative Survival Rate
Distant 40%
All SEER stages combined 74%

What is Kaposi sarcoma caused by?

Kaposi’s sarcoma is caused by a virus called the human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), also known as the Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). The virus is thought to be spread during sex, through blood or saliva, or from a mother to her baby during birth.

What are the 4 types of Kaposi’s sarcoma?

There are four different types of KS defined by the different populations it develops in, but the changes within the KS cells are very similar.

  • Epidemic (AIDS-associated) Kaposi sarcoma.
  • Classic (Mediterranean) Kaposi sarcoma.
  • Endemic (African) Kaposi sarcoma.
  • Iatrogenic (transplant-related) Kaposi sarcoma.

Is Kaposi sarcoma life threatening?

Kaposi’s sarcomas are usually not life threatening or disabling, but the condition may become life threatening when the cancer spreads to the lungs, liver, or gastrointestinal tract.

Where does Kaposi sarcoma first appear?

The tumors (lesions) of Kaposi’s sarcoma typically appear as painless purplish spots on the legs, feet or face. Lesions can also appear in the genital area, mouth or lymph nodes. In severe Kaposi’s sarcoma, lesions may develop in the digestive tract and lungs.

Can Kaposi sarcoma be cured?

Currently, no treatment is available to eradicate HHV-8 infection. Therefore, there is no cure for Kaposi sarcoma (KS). Instead, the purpose of therapy in all forms of KS is directed at alleviating symptoms and slowing disease progression.

What does Kaposi sarcoma look like when it starts?

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) usually appears first as spots (called lesions) on the skin. The lesions can be purple, red, or brown. KS lesions can be flat and not raised above the surrounding skin (called patches), flat but slightly raised (called plaques), or bumps (called nodules).

What locations of the body does Kaposi sarcoma occur on?

Kaposi sarcoma is a disease in which cancer cells are found in the skin or mucous membranes that line the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, from mouth to anus, including the stomach and intestines. These tumors appear as purple patches or nodules on the skin and/or mucous membranes and can spread to lymph nodes and lungs.