People with untreated HIV can be at higher risk of a wide range of infection-related cancer types.

The ageing of the population with HIV means that even in treated patients, cancer may soon become one of the leading causes of morbidity (illness) and mortality (death) in people with HIV. Recent research shows that immune deficiency is the probable explanation for the increased cancer risk; suggesting a broader than previously appreciated role for the immune system in the prevention of cancers related to infections.

For men who have sex with men, cellular changes in the genitals and anus, including those caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV)—the virus that causes warts—sometimes leads to anal cancer. This is more common in HIV-positive men and especially those with a low CD4 count.

For women, abnormalities in cervical cells, including those caused by HPV, and cervical cancer can occur regardless of HIV status. They are more common in women with HIV, and can be more invasive