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Anal Cancer

What is Anal Cancer?

Harvard Health Publishing

Anal cancer is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the anus. The anus is the end of the large intestine, through which solid waste leaves the body. The treatments for anal cancer and rectal cancer can differ. Doctors need to know the exact location and the specific type of cell that has become cancerous in order to choose the right treatment.

The body stores digestive waste (feces) in the rectum, the lower part of the large intestine. The feces travel through the anal canal, a short tube that connects the rectum to the anal opening where they are passed as a bowel movement.

Several types of cells line the anal canal. Anal glands, which lie underneath the lining, lubricate the anal canal to ease bowel movements.

Several types of tumors can form in the anus. These include noncancerous tumors and cancerous tumors that can spread to other parts of the body. Some noncancerous growths can turn cancerous over time.

Risk Factors

The strongest risk factor is infection with the human papillomavirus virus (HPV). HPV causes wart-like growths around the anus. The subtype HPV-16 has a particularly strong connection to anal cancer risk. However, most people with HPV do not develop anal cancer.

In general, other risk factors are similar to the risks of acquiring and/or not clearing an HPV infection:

Some people who develop anal cancer have no known risk factors.

Symptoms

Talk to your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. Other conditions that are not cancer (such as hemorrhoids) may cause similar symptoms.

Diagnosis

Sometimes doctors discover anal cancer during a routine physical exam or minor procedure. Some kinds of anal cancer may not cause symptoms until they’re at an advanced stage. Your doctor may recommend the following tests to help diagnose anal cancer:

If the tests show cancer, the next step is to see whether it has spread within the anus or to other parts of the body. This process is called staging. It is important for determining your treatment options.

Imaging tests may be done as part of the staging process. These may include:

Tumors of the anal canal are grouped into a set of stages. Stage 0 is the earliest stage, while stage IV is the most advanced. Sometimes anal cancer comes back after treatment. This is called recurrent anal cancer.

Expected Duration

Without treatment, anal cancer will continue to grow.

Prevention

To help reduce your risk of anal cancer:

Treatment

There are several treatments for anal cancer. Your doctor will recommend specific therapies based on:

The standard treatments are radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery, often in combination.

The most effective therapies usually include both chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

When you talk to your doctor about the treatment options, ask him or her about the expected benefits and risks. How will this treatment affect your prognosis? What will your quality of life be during and after treatment?

Follow-up tests during treatment will show how well the therapy is working. You should continue to have regular follow-up tests after your treatment is over to show if your condition has changed.

Treatment options

The following list of medications are related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

When To Call a Professional

Call your doctor if you experience any of the symptoms of anal cancer, including:

Prognosis

Anal cancer is often curable with treatment. The person’s outlook depends on the location and size of the tumor and whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.

Additional Info

National Cancer Institute (NCI)
U.S. National Institutes of Health
NCI Public Inquiries Office
6116 Executive Boulevard
Room 3036A
Bethesda, MD 20892-8322
1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237)
TTY: 1-800-332-8615
http://www.cancer.gov/

American Cancer Society (ACS)
P.O. Box 56566
Atlanta, GA 30343
Toll-Free: 1-800-ACS-2345 (1-800-227-2345)
TTY: 1-866-228-4327
http://www.cancer.org/

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
44 Binney St.
Boston, MA 02115
Toll-Free: 1-866-408-DFCI (3324)
http://www.dana-farber.org/

 


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Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.