Other Types of Skin Cancer: Kaposi''s Sarcoma / Paget''s Disease

What is Kaposi''s sarcoma?

Kaposi''s sarcoma is a skin cancer that starts in the skin''s blood vessels. Kaposi''s sarcoma comes in two forms: a slow-growing form, and a more aggressive, faster-spreading form. The slow-growing form usually starts as a purple or dark-brown, flat or raised, area on the lower leg. The more aggressive form of Kaposi''s sarcoma starts as a pink, red, or purple, round or oval, spot anywhere on the body, including internally.

Who is at risk for Kaposi''s sarcoma?

• classic Kaposi’s sarcoma - a slower-growing form of the disease, is more common in older people, especially those of European, Jewish, or Italian descent.
  
  
• African Kaposi’s sarcoma  - can be slow-growing or more aggressive, and often affects children and young men in African nations near the equator.
  
  
• treatment-related Kaposi’s sarcoma  - occurs in people receiving immune-suppressing drugs, such as after organ transplants.
  
  
• epidemic Kaposi’s sarcoma  - an aggressive form of the disease, occurs more often in people with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

What is Paget''s disease?

Paget''s disease is a rare form of skin cancer that begins in the glands in or under the skin. Characterized by inflamed, red patches on the skin, Paget''s disease often originates from breast duct cancer. The patches can occur in sweat glands, in the groin, or near the anus.

Because Paget''s disease often originates from breast duct cancer, the eczema-like cancer usually appears around the nipple. Paget''s disease is also considered a rare form of breast cancer.