Lymphoma while on av meds?!

[Texan81]

I have a very close relative too young to die that is dying from cns lymphoma.  There is nothing the drs can do.  I understood he was taking treatment for the virus and that it was working.  If he became undetectable how did hiv related lymphoma show up?  Is this normal? I thought if you were undetectable you couldnt get other infections or defining illnesses. Im frustrated, confused and upset...

[Jim Allen]

Hiya,

I'm sorry to hear about your relatives' diagnosis and, I wish you and your family strength during this time.

If he became undetectable how did hiv related lymphoma show up?  Is this normal? I thought if you were undetectable you couldnt get other infections or defining illnesses. Im frustrated, confused and upset...

Appreciate how painful and confusing it is to have someone close to you diagnosed with an unexpected illness and all I can say it does take time to digest that news and do make sure to look after yourself during this time.

If he became undetectable how did hiv related lymphoma show up?  Is this normal? I thought if you were undetectable you couldnt get other infections or defining illnesses

So, I can give some general information, in short, antiretroviral therapy has vastly improved the outcomes for people living with HIV as a group. Life expectancy as a group has sharply risen, and the meds suppress the virus, so it can't continue to unchallenged do both measured and unmeasured damage.

Once the virus is suppressed, most will see CD4 cells raise as the body heals for lack of better phase and the risk of OI's drops and dramatically so for some OI's. **

However, just like our HIV-neg peers, we can still get stick with the same things they do, and particular OI's remain a higher than average issue. Of course, not everyone in our group is equal, and other factors play a role.  Generally speaking, those starting treatment early so before damage is done tend to have the best outcomes as a group.

Hope that provides an easy to digest insight.

Best, Jim

** https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/starting-hiv-treatment

http://betablog.org/start-trial-shows-benefits-of-early-treatment-supports-art-for-all/
People who start antiretroviral therapy (ART) immediately after they are diagnosed with HIV, while their CD4 T-cell count is still high, have a lower risk of illness and death

https://www.poz.com/article/START-results-27299-8892
Gold-Standard Evidence Backs Early Treatment of HIV

https://www.poz.com/article/life-expectancy-24972-2090 (With treatment)
Life Expectancy for Young People With HIV Is Nearly Normal

Starting HIV treatment soon after diagnosis may reduce the risk of developing HIV-related cancer by 74%
http://www.thebody.com/content/79258/starting-hiv-treatment-early-reduces-hiv-related-c.html

https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1167482-overview#:~:text=United%20States%20statistics,the%20presenting%20feature%20of%20AIDS.