Anal cancer is a rare malignancy that starts in the anus — the opening at the end of the rectum.
The American Cancer Society estimates that just 5,070 new cases of anal cancer occurred last year in the U.S. and just 680 people in the U.S. died from the disease.
About half of all anal cancers are diagnosed before the malignancy has spread beyond the primary site, while about a third are diagnosed after the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes only and 10% are diagnosed after the cancer has spread to distant organs.
When it is found early, anal cancer is highly treatable.
According to the American Cancer Society, the overall five-year survival rate following diagnosis of anal cancer is 60% for men and 71% for women.
When the cancer is diagnosed in its earliest stage, five-year survival is 82%. If it has spread to surrounding lymph nodes, five-year survival drops to 60%. And when it has spread to distant organs, about one in five patients lives for five years or more.
Who gets Anal Cancer?
Most anal cancers are diagnosed in people who are between 50 and 80. before age 50, anal cancer is more common in men, but after age 50 it is slightly more common in women, says Debbie Saslow, PhD, director of breast and gynecological cancer at the American Cancer Society.
Anal infection with human papillomavirus ( HPV) is a major risk factor for the cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, 85% of anal cancers are associated with persistent infection with the sexually transmitted virus.
Although an HPV vaccine is now in use for the prevention of cervical cancer, it is not being given to prevent anal cancer.
According to both the American Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute, other risk factors for anal cancer include being over 50 years old, having many sexual partners, having receptive anal intercourse, having a weakened immune system, frequent anal redness and soreness, and being a smoker.
Some tumors that develop in the anus are noncancerous. Others start off as benign but develop into cancer over time.
What Are the Symptoms of Anal Cancer?
In some cases, there are no symptoms associated with anal cancer, but in about half of patients bleeding occurs and is often the first sign of the disease, according to the American Cancer Society.
Because anal itching can also be a symptom of the cancer, many people initially attribute their bleeding and itching to hemorrhoids.
Other signs and symptoms of anal cancer can include:
Pain or pressure in the anal area
Unusual discharges from the anus
Change in bowel habits
How Is Anal Cancer Diagnosed?
Anal cancer can be detected during a routine digital rectal exam or during a minor procedure, such as removal of what is believed to be a hemorrhoid.
The cancer may also be found with more invasive procedures such as an anoscopy, proctoscopy, or endorectal ultrasound.
If cancer is suspected, a biopsy will be done and will be examined by a pathologist.
How Is Anal Cancer Treated?
Standard treatments for anal cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.
According to the American Cancer Society, treatment usually involves two or more of these treatment strategies.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy is the most widely used approach to initial treatment.
Approximately 135,000 new cases of colorectal cancer occur in the United States each year, resulting in approximately 55,000 deaths per year. two thirds of these cases occur in the colon and one third in the rectum. The incidence and epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis, and screening recommendations are common to both colon cancer and rectal cancer. these areas are addressed together.
Adenocarcinomas (98%) comprise most rectal cancers and are the focus of this discussion. other rare rectal cancers, including carcinoid (0.1%), lymphoma (1.3%), and sarcoma (0.3%), are not discussed. Squamous cell carcinomas may develop in the transition area from rectum to anal verge and are considered anal carcinomas. very rare cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the rectum have been reported.
Causes
The etiology of colorectal cancer is unknown, but colorectal cancer appears to be multifactorial in origin and includes environmental factors and a genetic component. Diet may have an etiologic role, especially diet with high fat content.
Approximately 75% of colorectal cancers are sporadic and develop in people with no specific risk factors. The remaining 25% of cases occur in people with significant risk factors. Most (15-20%) colorectal cancers develop in people with either a positive family history or a personal history of colorectal cancer or polyps. The remaining cases occur in people with certain genetic predispositions, such as hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC, 4-7%) or familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP, 1%) or in people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, 1%).
A high-fat, low-fiber diet is implicated in the development of colorectal cancer. Specifically, people who ingest a diet high in unsaturated animal fats and highly saturated vegetable oils (eg, corn, safflower) have a higher incidence of colorectal cancer. The mechanism by which these substances are related to the development of colorectal cancer is unknown.
Saturated fats from dairy products do not have the same effect, nor do oils containing oleic acid (eg, olive, coconut, fish oils). Omega-3 monounsaturated fatty acids and omega-6 monounsaturated fatty acids also appear to be less carcinogenic than unsaturated or polyunsaturated fats. In fact, recent epidemiologic data suggest that high fish consumption may provide a protective effect against development of colorectal cancer.
Long-term diets high in red meat or processed meats appear to increase the risk of distal colon and rectal cancers.
The ingestion of a high-fiber diet may be protective against colorectal cancer. Fiber causes the formation of a soft, bulky stool that dilutes out carcinogens; it also decreases colonic transit time, allowing less time for harmful substances to contact the mucosa. The decreased incidence of colorectal cancer in African individuals is attributed to their high-fiber, low–animal-fat diet. This favorable statistic is reversed when African people adopt a western diet.
Increased dietary intake of calcium appears to have a protective effect on colorectal mucosa by binding with bile acids and fatty acids. The resulting calcium salts may have antiproliferative effects, decreasing crypt cell production in the mucosa.
Other dietary components, such as selenium, carotenoids, and vitamins A, C, and E, may have protective effects by scavenging free-oxygen radicals in the colon. for further details on the unbelievable cost Anal Cancer surgery in India feel free to visit us at indiacancersurgerysite.com or mail your queries at or talk to us international callers, at +91 9579034639
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