The Symptoms That Tell You’re Suffering From Anal Cancer

Cancer starts when the cells in the body start growing out of control. Cells in nearly any part of the body can become cancer, and can even spread to other parts of the body.

Anal cancer is an unusual type of cancer that occurs in anal canal. The anal canal is a short tube at the end of the rectum through which the stool leaves an individual’s body.

Anal cancer may cause signs and symptoms such as the rectal bleeding and severe anal pain.

Most people with the anal cancer are treated with a combination of radiation and chemotherapy. Though combining the anal cancer treatments increases the chance of the recovery, the combined treatments even increase the risk of the side-effects.

Signs and Symptoms of Anal Cancer
Anal cancer signs and symptoms include:

• Pain in the area of the anus
• Bleeding from the rectum or anus
• Anal itching
• A mass or growth in the anal canal

Causes Associated
Anal cancer forms when a genetic mutation turns the normal, healthy cells into the abnormal cells. Healthy cells multiply and grow at a set rate, eventually dying at an already set time. Abnormal cells multiply and grow out of the control, and they do not die. Cancer cells invade the nearby tissues and can separate from an initial tumor to spread anywhere else in the body (metastasize).

The risk factors
Several factors have been known to increase the risk of anal cancer, including:

• Many sexual partners: Individuals who have many sexual partners over their lifetime, have a greater risk of suffering from anal cancer.
• Older age: In most of the cases, anal cancer occurs in the people aged 50 and older.
• Anal sex: People who engage in the anal sex have an increased risk of anal cancer.
• History of cancer: Those who have had a cervical, vulvar or vaginal cancer have an increased risk of anal cancer.
• Smoking: Smoking cigarettes may increase the risk of anal cancer.

Preventive measures
There is no sure way to avoid anal cancer. In order to lessen the risk of anal cancer:

• Practice safer sex: Abstaining from the sex or practicing safe sex may help prevent HPV and HIV, two sexually transmitted viruses that can increase the risk of anal cancer. If one chooses to have anal sex, use the condoms.
• Stop smoking: Smoking increases the risk of the anal cancer. Don’t begin smoking. Stop, if you already smoke.

When should you visit a doctor?
Talk to the doctor about any symptoms and signs that bother you, especially if you have any factors that increase the risk of anal cancer.