Anal cancer is fairly rare. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2012 about 6,230 new cases of anal cancer will be diagnosed in the United States. Anal Cancer is slightly more common in women than in men and is found mainly in adults around 60 years of age. Most cases of anal cancers seem to be linked to infection by the human papilloma virus (HPV), the same virus that causes cervical cancer. In fact, women who have had cervical cancer (or pre-cancer) have an increased risk of anal cancer.
SYMPTOMS OF ANAL CANCER
Not all cases of anal cancer present symptoms, but for those that do, the most common symptoms are the following:
- Pain in or around the anal area
- Bleeding or itching around the anal area
- Change in bowel habits and stool size
- Swollen lymph nodes around the anal area
- Abnormal anal discharge
TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR ANAL CANCER
Anal cancer can be treated with Surgery, Chemotherapy, and Radiation Therapy. The type of treatment or combination of treatments used depends on the stage of the anal cancer.