Final answer:
Prostate cancer, once commonly found only in older men, is now frequently seen in people infected with HIV due to their weakened immune systems. HIV compromises the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to opportunistic diseases, including cancer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of cancer once commonly found only in older men and now frequently seen in people infected with HIV is prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is a tumor that develops in the prostate gland, which is part of the male reproductive system. It is the most common type of cancer in men, especially in adults over the age of 50.
Prostate cancer was traditionally associated with older men, but its incidence has increased among people infected with HIV. This is because HIV weakens the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to opportunistic diseases, including cancer. When a person with HIV develops prostate cancer, it is considered an opportunistic cancer – a type of cancer that rarely occurs except in people with a compromised immune system.
To understand the connection between HIV and prostate cancer, we need to know that HIV is a virus that targets and attacks helper T cells, which play a key role in the immune response. The virus gradually weakens the immune system, making it less effective at fighting off infections and diseases. As a result, people with HIV are more prone to developing various illnesses, including certain types of cancer.