Some basics of anal
cancer cause no symptoms at all.
But bleeding occurs in
more than half of patients and is usually the first sign of the disease.
Pain or lumps in the
anal area may be a symptom.
Anal cancer is a
uncommon form of cancer that occurs in the anus.
There are amny other
risk factors for Anal cancer.
Anus is the opening at
the end of the rectum around which body waste passes.
The skin around the
outside of the anus is called the perianal area.
Tumors in this area are
skin tumors, not anal cancer.
Cancer in the outer part
of the anus is more likely to occur in men, cancer of the inner part of the
rectum is more likely to occur in women.
Having multiple sex
partners or having anal sex, due to the increased risk of exposure to the HPV
virus. Current smokers are several times more likely to develop anal cancer
compared with nonsmokers.
Inflammation resulting
from benign analy retarted, such as hemorrhoids and anal fistulas, has been
considered to cause a predisposition to anal cancer.
Anal cancer is usually a
disease of the older population.
Anal cancer is typically
a squamous cell carcinoma that arises near the squamocolumnar junction.
The rate of infection of
HPV is increased in patients with HIV even if they do not engage in anal
receptive intercourse and do not have evidence of suppression of their immune
system.
Currently, anal cancer
is not considered an AIDS defining illness.
However, frequently,
patients who have been newly diagnosed with anal cancer are tested for HIV if
they have other risk factors for infection with HIV.
Although there appears
to be an increased rate of anal cancer in patients who have benign anal
conditions such as anal fistulae, anal fissures, perianal abscesses, or
hemorrhoids, it does not appear that these benign conditions are a cause of
anal cancer.
Anal itching and discharge can also be signs
of anal cancer.
At first, most people
assume that hemorrhoids are the cause of their bleeding. Itching can also be a
symptom.
Occasionally, patients
have the sensation of having a mass in the anus and may experience itching or
anal discharge.
In certain patients,
these symptoms may be associated with the presence of warts in the anal region.
Rarely, in advanced
cases, anal cancers can disrupt the function of the anal muscles, resulting in
loss of control of bowel movements.
There are a number of
benign conditions, such as hemorrhoids, fissures, or anal warts that can cause
similar symptoms.
But if any of the signs
or symptoms of anal cancer are present, discuss them with your doctor without
delay.
There are treatments
present for all patients with anal cancer.
Like most cancers, anal cancer is best treated
when it is found early.
Possible treatments
include radiation, chemotherapy and surgery.
Your treatment will
depend whether the tumor has spread, and on the type, size and location of the
tumor.
Surgery is a common way
to diagnose and treat anal cancer. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer
cells.
Chemotherapy may be taken by pill, or it may
be put into the body by a needle in a vein or muscle.
Radiation therapy uses
x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
Radiation may come from
a machine outside the body or from putting materials that produce radiation
through thin plastic tubes in the area where the cancer cells are found.
Radiation can be used
alone or in addition to other treatments.
Source: Free Articles
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Juliet Cohen writes
articles for http://www.disordersatoz.com/, http://www.health-care-guide.org/
and http://www.diseasesatoz.com/ .
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