There's no cure for Kaposi sarcoma. But there are many treatment options that can help control it. Some people may not need treatment right away. Instead, the condition might be monitored to make sure it's not getting worse. Treatment depends on:

• The type of Kaposi sarcoma.
• The number of lesions and where they are.
• The effects of the lesions, such as causing pain or getting in the way of eating or breathing.
• Your overall health.

Treatment for AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma

Thanks to better antiviral medicines to treat AIDS and ways to prevent it, Kaposi sarcoma has become less common and less severe in people with AIDS. Taking antiviral medicines can lower the amount of the virus that causes HIV/AIDS and make the immune system stronger. This might be the only treatment needed for Kaposi sarcoma.

Treatment for transplant-related Kaposi sarcoma

Some people with transplant-related Kaposi sarcoma may be able to stop taking the medicines that are controlling the immune system or switch to another medicine.

Treatment for small skin lesions

Treatments for small skin lesions might include:

• Minor surgery, also called excision.
• Freezing treatment, called cryotherapy.
• Radiation therapy.
• An injection of the chemotherapy medicine vinblastine into lesions.
• Applying a medicine cream or gel to the skin.

Lesions treated in any of these ways are likely to return within a couple of years. When this happens, treatment often can be repeated.

Treatment if there are many skin lesions

If Kaposi sarcoma causes many skin lesions, other treatments might be needed, such as:

• Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses powerful energy beams to kill cancer cells. This is a treatment option if there are many skin lesions, but not enough to need chemotherapy.
• Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses strong medicines to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy might be an option when Kaposi sarcoma affects multiple parts of the body. For Kaposi sarcoma that's getting worse quickly, chemotherapy might help.