The American Cancer Society estimates that there were about 10,540 new cases of anal cancer in the U.S. in 2024, with approximately 2,190 deaths. Women are affected more than men, although men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk for anal cancers.
Most anal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas that develop in the anal canal (the passage linking the lower intestine to the outside of our bodies). Squamous cells are tough, flat cells that are part of the epidermis (the top most layer of skin).
Signs and Symptoms:
Not all cases involve symptoms, or symptoms might be minor
As with cervical cancer, high-risk types of HPV are found in most anal cancers. HPV produces proteins that are able to ‘turn off” other proteins that the immune system uses to suppress and clear tumor cells. Hampering the immune response in this way is a key part in allowing cells to become abnormal and progress along to cancer.
Transmission of HPV to the anal canal is usually (but not always) by anal sex. Since HPV is passed on through skin-to-skin contact with an area that contains the virus, penetration is not necessary for transmission to occur. Fingers and sex toys are also possible routes of introducing HPV to the anus, especially when HPV-related lesions are present in the genital or perianal area.
Women and MSM are not the only ones at risk. It’s not uncommon for anal HPV to be detected in men who report no history of sexual contact with other men, and in women who have never had anal intercourse.
Anal cytology (also called an anal Pap test) involves taking cell samples from the anal canal which are then viewed under microscope and examined for abnormalities. Much like cervical cytology, anal Paps seek to find abnormal cell changes or lesions of the epithelium (surface of the skin), ideally before cancer develops.
Precancerous anal lesions are referred to as anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) or anal squamous intraepithelial lesion (ASIL). Depending on their severity, size, and risk to progress to cancer, lesions can be classified as either low-grade or high-grade.
Follow-up for patients with abnormal cell changes detected is high resolution anoscopy (HRA). A procedure similar to cervical colposcopy, HRA uses a special microscope to examine the anal area. Any suspicious lesions detected are biopsied.
Low-grade lesions are often monitored, while high-grade lesions may either be monitored or treated. Treatment for anal cancer includes:
Combination therapy (radiation and chemotherapy used in tandem)
HPV (a.k.a. human papilloma virus) is an equal opportunity virus, infecting both men and women. Men can get infected with HPV, and most do—it’s so common that nearly all sexually active people will have HPV at some point in
their lives.
A cure for HPV! Satisfaction guaranteed! No more outbreaks! If you’ve had an HPV diagnosis, you may have seen claims like this in your search for information on the Internet and elsewhere, often written in large bold type. In smaller type are the disclaimers: “Individual
Nearly half of males in the United States have genital human papillomavirus (HPV), according to a study published in JAMA Oncology.
Actress Marcia Cross Discusses Her Anal Cancer Diagnosis Hoping to lessen stigma and spur conversations between patients and health care professionals, Desperate Housewives actor Marcia Cross recently told CBS This Morning she was diagnosed with anal cancer about a year and a half ago. “High
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 36,500 HPV-associated cancers occur in the U.S each year.
A new study revealed a disturbing trend in health knowledge; fewer people seem to understand the connection between HPV and certain types of cancer including cervical, oral, anal, and penile cancers.
An exciting new study in Scotland found no cases of invasive cervical cancer in young women who had gotten the HPV vaccine by the time they were 14.
About 4 out of 10 HPV-related cancers occur in men, which means that about 15,000 men get cancers caused by HPV each year.
ASHA believes that all people have the right to the information and services that will help them to have optimum sexual health. We envision a time when stigma is no longer associated with sexual health and our nation is united in its belief that sexuality is a normal, healthy, and positive aspect of human life.
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