AZT, synonomous with Cancer?

Spring break has given us time away from classes, and my HIV results have given me time away from the world of AIDS even just for a little while. Although Teach's intention was to heighten our awareness by making us wait the full two weeks, I didn't have too much of a problem. However, I will admit, the prospect was always lingering over my head. On the way home in the car after getting my results (negative), a variety of thoughts streamed through my mind. For one, I was happy to think of my blood as "clean" in regards to HIV because in other ways it is not. I was happy to no longer have to deal with the idea of "what if"; now I had definite results. And while part of me was also happy that I can continue my life without too much of a fight, I remembered and always will remember those that do because of AIDS.

Did You Know...??

On December 18Th, 2009, Zidovudine or otherwise known as AZT was added to the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment list of environmental toxins known to cause cancer and reproductive toxicity. In the process of stopping the integral process of the HIV virus into the host DNA, the medicine causes irreversible damage to the host DNA and mitochondria responsible for cell division. You must also keep in mind that cancer is defined as uncontrolled cell division. According to the official website: AZT causes Cancer, "more HIV positive women in South Africa (where widespread use of AZT occurs) are giving birth to brain- damaged children. Sometimes it shows up years after birth in the form of developmental disabilities." Although AZT remains the most common drug to treat HIV/AIDS, no maximum dosage of toxicity has been warranted.

Reference List:

-Web: AZT Causes Cancer. Feb 27, 2010. Heal London. Retrieved 3/16/10 from, http://www.heallondon.org/health-and-well-being/93-azt-causes-cancer-official.html.

-Photo: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/aidsephemera/images/azt.jpg.