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34-587: Shanti Project began providing its first AIDS specific services in 1981 and became solely an AIDS service organization in 1984. In 2001 the organization also began serving Women with breast cancer in addition to people who are HIV+. Then in 2013, renamed the Women's Cancer Project for Margot Murphy because of a funding source secured through the generous family of Margot Murphy. In November, 2015 Shanti opened their services up to Women with any type of cancer. In December 1981, director Jim Geary and Steve Peskind, co-founder of

68-587: A non space-occupying lesion is simply a hole in the tissue, e.g. a small area of the brain that has turned to fluid following a stroke . Lesions may also be classified by the shape they form. This is the case with many ulcers , which can have a bullseye or 'target' appearance. A coin lesion as seen in an X-ray has the appearance of a coin sitting on the patient's chest. Brain lesions may help researchers understand brain function. Research involving lesions relies on two assumptions: that brain damage can affect different aspects of cognition independently, and that

102-516: A varicella zoster virus infection are called chickenpox . Lesions of the teeth are usually called dental caries , or "cavities". Lesions are often classified by their tissue types or locations. For example, a "skin lesion" or a " brain lesion " are named for the tissue where they are found. If there is an added significance to regions within the tissue—such as in neural injuries where different locations correspond to different neurological deficits—they are further classified by location. For example,

136-615: A compact disc featuring various artists, titled Shanti Project Collection . A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the CD were donated to the Shanti Project. It has since been followed up with two more collections. Kaposi%E2%80%99s Sarcoma Kaposi's sarcoma ( KS ) is a type of cancer that can form masses on the skin , in lymph nodes , in the mouth, or in other organs . The skin lesions are usually painless, purple and may be flat or raised. Lesions can occur singly, multiply in

170-401: A lesion in the central nervous system is called a central lesion, and a lesion in the peripheral nervous system is called a peripheral lesion . A myocardial lesion results from damage to the heart muscle, and a coronary lesion is a subtype that describes a lesion in the coronary arteries . Coronary lesions are then further classified according to the side of the heart that is affected and

204-614: A limited area, or may be widespread. Depending on the sub-type of disease and level of immune suppression, KS may worsen either gradually or quickly. Except for Classical KS where there is generally no immune suppression, KS is caused by a combination of immune suppression (such as due to HIV/AIDS ) and infection by Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8 – also called KS-associated herpesvirus (KSHV)). Classic, endemic, immunosuppression therapy-related (also known as iatrogenic), and epidemic (also known as AIDS-related) sub-types are all described. Classic KS tends to affect older men in regions where KSHV

238-420: A locally damaged brain functions identically to a normal brain in its "undamaged" parts. Sham lesion is the name given to a control procedure during a lesion experiment. In a sham lesion, an animal may be placed in a stereotaxic apparatus and electrodes inserted as in the experimental condition, but no current is passed, and therefore damage to the tissue should be minimal. Humans with brain lesions are often

272-478: A person is at risk for transmitting the infection to their sexual partner, or whether an organ is infected before transplantation. However, these tests are not available except as research tools, and, thus, there is little screening for persons at risk for becoming infected with KSHV, such as people following a transplant. Kaposi sarcoma is not curable, but it can often be treatable for many years. In KS associated with immunodeficiency or immunosuppression, treating

306-407: Is an excitotoxic lesion, which can be caused by excitatory amino acids like kainic acid that kill neurons through overstimulation. Lesion size may be specified as gross , meaning it is visible to the unaided eye, or histologic , meaning a microscope is needed to see it. A space-occupying lesion , as the name suggests, has a recognizable volume and may impinge on nearby structures, whereas

340-449: Is caused by a virus different from HIV. Thus, there is little community effort to prevent KSHV infection. Likewise, no systematic screening of organ donations is in place. In people with AIDS, Kaposi sarcoma is considered an opportunistic infection , a disease that can gain a foothold in the body because the immune system has been weakened. With the rise of HIV/AIDS in Africa , where KSHV

374-541: Is highly vascular , containing abnormally dense and irregular blood vessels, which leak red blood cells into the surrounding tissue and give the tumor its dark color. Inflammation around the tumor may produce swelling and pain. Variously sized PAS positive hyaline bodies are often seen in the cytoplasm or sometimes extracellularly. The spindle cells of Kaposi sarcoma differentiate toward endothelial cells , probably of lymph vessel rather than blood vessel origin. The consistent immunoreactivity for podoplanin supports

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408-514: Is highly prevalent (Mediterranean, Eastern Europe, Middle East), is usually slow-growing, and most often affects only the legs. Endemic KS is most common in Sub-Saharan Africa and is more aggressive in children, while older adults present similarly to classic KS. Immunosuppression therapy-related KS generally occurs in people following organ transplantation and mostly affects the skin. Epidemic KS occurs in people with AIDS and many parts of

442-515: Is not completely suppressed. People with a few local lesions can often be treated with local measures such as radiation therapy or cryosurgery . Weak evidence suggests that antiretroviral therapy in combination with chemotherapy is more effective than either of those two therapies individually. Limited basic and clinical evidence suggest that topical beta-blockers , such as timolol , may induce regression of localized lesions in classic as well as HIV-associated Kaposi sarcoma. In general, surgery

476-501: Is not recommended, as Kaposi sarcoma can appear in wound edges. In general, more widespread disease, or disease affecting internal organs, is treated with systemic therapy with interferon alpha, liposomal anthracyclines (such as liposomal doxorubicin or daunorubicin ), thalidomide , or paclitaxel . Alitretinoin , applied to the lesion, may be used when the lesion is not getting better with standard treatment of HIV/AIDS and chemotherapy or radiation therapy cannot be used. With

510-491: Is responsible for all varieties of KS. Since Moritz Kaposi first described the cancer, the disease has been reported in five separate clinical settings, with different presentations, epidemiology, and prognoses. All of the forms are infected with KSHV and are different manifestations of the same disease but have differences in clinical aggressiveness, prognosis, and treatment. Blood tests to detect antibodies against KSHV have been developed and can be used to determine whether

544-488: Is unknown. KSHV is also transmissible via organ transplantation and blood transfusion. Testing for the virus before these procedures is likely to effectively limit iatrogenic transmission. Despite its name, in general it is not considered a true sarcoma , which is a tumor arising from mesenchymal tissue . The histogenesis of KS remains controversial. KS may arise as a cancer of lymphatic endothelium and forms vascular channels that fill with blood cells, giving

578-493: Is widespread, KS has become the most frequently reported cancer in some countries. Lesion A lesion is any damage or abnormal change in the tissue of an organism , usually caused by injury or diseases . Lesion is derived from the Latin laesio meaning "injury". Lesions may occur in plants as well as animals. There is no designated classification or naming convention for lesions. Since lesions can occur anywhere in

612-478: The University of San Francisco , was the Shanti Project's first residence program director. Shanti is a Sanskrit word meaning "inner peace" or "tranquility" and all of Shanti's direct service and educational programs are aimed at easing the burdens and improving the well-being of people in difficult life situations.The Shanti model of peer support is built upon several services In 1999 Badman Recording Co. released

646-579: The Buddhist AIDS Project, started the first known Kaposi’s Sarcoma support group. Group members Bobbi Campbell , Bobby Reynolds, and people with AIDS (PWA) activist Dan Turner contributed to the movement that created the foundational Denver Principles , listing recommendations and rights. This work led to the formation of the movement and groups such as ACT-UP and the People with AIDS Coalition. Helen Schietinger , nurse coordinator of an AIDS clinic at

680-614: The addition of chemotherapy may be required. With widespread disease, death may occur. The condition is relatively common in people with HIV/AIDS and following organ transplant. Over 35% of people with AIDS may be affected. KS was first described by Moritz Kaposi in 1872. It became more widely known as one of the AIDS-defining illnesses in the 1980s. KSHV was discovered as a causative agent in 1994. KS lesions are nodules or blotches that may be red, purple, brown, or black, and are usually papular . They are typically found on

714-605: The airway can present with shortness of breath, fever , cough , coughing up blood or chest pain, or as an incidental finding on chest x-ray . The diagnosis is usually confirmed by bronchoscopy , when the lesions are directly seen and often biopsied. Kaposi's sarcoma of the lung has a poor prognosis. Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), also called HHV-8, is present in almost 100% of Kaposi sarcoma lesions, whether HIV-related, classic, endemic, or iatrogenic . KSHV encodes oncogenes , microRNAs and circular RNAs that promote cancer cell proliferation and escape from

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748-443: The body and the definition of a lesion is so broad, the varieties of lesions are virtually endless. Generally, lesions may be classified by their patterns, their sizes, their locations, or their causes. They can also be named after the person who discovered them. For example, Ghon lesions , which are found in the lungs of those with tuberculosis , are named after the lesion's discoverer, Anton Ghon. The characteristic skin lesions of

782-574: The body can be affected. KS is diagnosed by tissue biopsy , while the extent of disease may be determined by medical imaging . Treatment is based on the sub-type, whether the condition is localized or widespread, and the person's immune function. Localized skin lesions may be treated by surgery, injections of chemotherapy into the lesion, or radiation therapy . Widespread disease may be treated with chemotherapy or biologic therapy . In those with HIV/AIDS, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) prevents and often treats KS. In certain cases

816-572: The cause of the immune system dysfunction can slow or stop the progression of KS. In 40% or more of patients with AIDS-associated Kaposi sarcoma, the Kaposi lesions will shrink upon first starting highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Therefore, HAART is considered the cornerstone of therapy in AIDS-associated Kaposi sarcoma. However, in a certain percentage of such people, Kaposi sarcoma may recur after many years on HAART, especially if HIV

850-512: The decrease in the death rate among people with HIV/AIDS receiving new treatments in the 1990s, the rates and severity of epidemic KS also decreased. However, the number of people living with HIV/AIDS is increasing in the United States, and it is possible that the number of people with AIDS-associated Kaposi sarcoma will again rise as these people live longer with HIV infection. Because of their highly visible nature, external lesions are sometimes

884-465: The diameter of the artery in which they form. If a lesion is caused by a tumor , it can be classified as malignant or benign after analysis of a biopsy . A benign lesion that is evolving into a malignant lesion is called "premalignant". Cancerous lesions are sometimes classified by their growth kinetics, such as the Lodwick classification, which characterizes classes of bone lesions. Another type

918-507: The immune system. In Europe and North America, KSHV is transmitted through saliva. Thus, kissing is a risk factor for transmission. Higher rates of transmission among gay and bisexual men have been attributed to "deep kissing" sexual partners with KSHV. Another alternative theory suggests that use of saliva as a sexual lubricant might be a major mode for transmission. Prudent advice is to use commercial lubricants when needed and avoid deep kissing with partners with KSHV infection or whose status

952-557: The lymphatic nature of the lesion. Although KS may be suspected from the appearance of lesions and the patient's risk factors, a definite diagnosis can be made only by biopsy and microscopic examination. Detection of the KSHV protein LANA in tumor cells confirms the diagnosis. In differential diagnosis, arteriovenous malformations , pyogenic granuloma and other vascular proliferations can be microscopically confused with KS. Source: HHV-8

986-590: The mouth, the hard palate is most frequently affected, followed by the gums . Lesions in the mouth may be easily damaged by chewing and bleed or develop secondary infection, and even interfere with eating or speaking. Involvement can be common in those with transplant-related or AIDS-related KS, and it may occur in the absence of skin involvement. The gastrointestinal lesions may be silent or cause weight loss, pain, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea , bleeding (either vomiting blood or passing it with bowel movements), malabsorption , or intestinal obstruction . Involvement of

1020-424: The presenting symptom of AIDS. Kaposi sarcoma entered the awareness of the general public with the release of the film Philadelphia , in which the main character was fired after his employers found out he was HIV-positive due to visible lesions. By the time KS lesions appear, likely, the immune system has already been severely weakened. It has been reported that only 6% of men who have sex with men are aware that KS

1054-504: The skin, but spread elsewhere is common, especially the mouth, gastrointestinal tract and respiratory tract . Growth can range from very slow to explosively fast, and is associated with significant mortality and morbidity . The lesions are painless, but become cosmetically disfiguring or interruptive to organs. Commonly affected areas include the lower limbs , back, face, mouth, and genitalia . The lesions are usually as described above, but may occasionally be plaque -like (often on

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1088-399: The soles of the feet) or even involved in skin breakdown with resulting fungating lesions . Associated swelling may be from either local inflammation or lymphoedema (obstruction of local lymphatic vessels by the lesion). Kaposi's sarcoma skin lesions may be psychologically distressing. The mouth is involved in about 30% of cases, and is the initial site in 15% of AIDS-related KS. In

1122-420: The subjects of research with the goal of establishing the function of the area where their lesion occurred. A drawback to the use of human subjects is the difficulty in finding subjects who have a lesion to the area the researcher wishes to study. As such, transcranial magnetic stimulation is often used in cognition and neuroscience-related tests to imitate the effect. Using animal subjects gives researchers

1156-462: The tumor its characteristic bruise-like appearance. KSHV proteins are uniformly detected in KS cancer cells. KS lesions contain tumor cells with a characteristic abnormal elongated shape, called spindle cells . The most typical feature of Kaposi sarcoma is the presence of spindle cells forming slits containing red blood cells. Mitotic activity is only moderate and pleomorphism is usually absent. The tumor

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