Anal cancer is a cancer that develops in the anus, the opening of the rectum, which allows waste to pass from the large intestine to outside of the body. The anus is often confused with the rectum, which is the last several inches of the lower intestine. The rectum ultimately ends at the anus, where fecal material exists the body. The anus is the opening of the rectum. It allows waste to pass from the large intestine and out the body. Like other parts of the body, the anus is susceptible to infections and diseases such as anal cancer.
Possible causes and risk factors of Anal cancer. There are many risk factors and possible causes that can lead to annals cancer and some of them include the following :
• Smoking cigarettes
• Infection with HPV virus
• Receiving anal intercourse
• Abnormal openings in or around the fistulas
• Having multiple sexual partners.
• Being older than 50 years of age
• Anal swelling, redness or soreness that occurs frequently
Signs and symptoms of anal cancer
The symptoms of anal cancer are not unique and are also symptoms of other conditions, Such as hemorrhoids. Although anal cancer is relatively simple to diagnose, this can cause a delay in diagnosis for some patients with anal cancer.
Symptoms of anal cancer include:
• Lumps or bumps located near the anus
• Anal bleeding or bleeding during bowel movements
• Anal discharge
• Pain in or around the anus
• Itchy sensation around or inside the anus
• Change in bowel habits, such as constipation and diarrhea.
Diagnosis of anal cancerSymptoms are most often what prompt people to seek medical attention that leads to an anal cancer diagnosis, but some times the cancer is found through a routine digital rectal exam or an anal Pap test. If anal cancer is suspected, then further evaluation is required to confirm the presence or absence of cancer.
The first step in diagnosing cancer is to view the anus and rectum more Ephesian.
This is done endoscopically, with a hollow, lighted tube called “endoscope.” The endoscope is lubricated and inserted into the anus, allowing the doctor to get a better view of the anus. The procedure is called an “endoscopy” and is brief and painless. If a suspicious area is found during an endoscopy, then the doctor may remove it or do a biopsy. A biopsy involves removal of small samples of Abnormal tissues to be later viewed under a microphone by a pathologist.
The pathologist studies the biopsy and looks for cancerous cells. If cancer is confirmed, then he or she will also determine what stage the anal cancer has progressed to. Staging refers to how far the cancer has spread to nearby tissues. For those with suspected cases of advanced anal cancer, more tests may be done to determine the anal cancer stage. Tests may include MRIs, CT scans or other imaging tests.
Treatment and management of anal cancer
There are three primary methods of treating anal cancer; radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery.
Radiation Therapy. Radiation therapy uses certain types of high-energy beams of radiation to shrink tumors or eliminate cancer cells. Radiation therapy works by damaging a cancer cell’s DNA, making it unable to multiply. Although radiation therapy can damage nearby healthy cells, cancer cells are highly sensitive to radiation and typically die when treated.
Healthy cells that are damaged during radiation are resilient and are often able to fully recover.
Two primary types of radiation therapy are external beam radiation therapy and internal beam radiation, also called “brachytherapy.” External beam radiation is more common than internal beam radiation in treating anal cancer.
• Side effects of Radiation Therapy.
• How to manage skin effects caused by radiation Therapy
Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy may be prescribed to treat anal cancer in conjunction with radiation therapy treatments.
Chemotherapy drugs work by eliminating rapidly multiplying cancer cells, however, there are other healthy cells in the body that multiply just as quickly, such as hair follicle cells. Unfortunately, many chemotherapy drugs may not be able to discern the two, attacking healthy cells and causing side effects, such as hair loss.
• Chemotherapy side effects.
• Hair loss and chemotherapy: can it be prevented.
• Combating fatigue during chemotherapy
Surgery – surgery to remove the tumor is the least common method of treating anal cancer but is still an option for some. When surgery is recommended, it is often done in conjunction with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy.
Prevention of Anal cancer
Since we can not explain what exactly causes anal cancer Total prevention can be difficult. The best defence we have against developing the disease is to avoid the brown risk factors. Tips to help your risk of anal cancer include.
• Using a condom during intercourse. Wearing a condom may provide protection against HPV. Although condoms don’t provide 100% protection against HPV, you are much safer wearing one than not.
• Limiting the number of sexual partners you have. When a person has multiple sexual partners, they are at an increased risk for HPV which is linked to anal cancer.
• Avoiding anal intercourse. Anal intercourse increases the risk factors for anal cancer for both men and women.
• Quiting smoking. According to the American cancer society, smokers are 4times more likely to develop anal cancer than non smokers. Smoking also puts you at risk for many other of cancer.
The HPV vaccine is expected to reduce cases of anal cancer, but there are no studies that confirm this yet. Garda silver, the current FDA-approved vaccine, is available to young women ages 9-26. It provides protection against two strains of HPV known to cause cervical cancer in women and two strains that cause genital warts also. Because these strains of HPV may be related to the development of anal cancer, the vaccine may provide protection. More research is being done to study the vaccine’s efficacy in men.
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