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What is Anal Cancer?
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Melissa Slate has been a registered nurse for over 15 years. She has enjoyed many different functions in nursing, but her primary interests have been in the fields of general medicine, public health, and infectious disease.
The recent death of Farrah Fawcett from anal cancer has sparked questions and concerns among Americans about the disease. The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 5,300 cases of cancer of the anus are going to be discovered in 2009 and 700 persons will die from anal cancer.
Anal Cancer involves the intestinal opening to the outside of the body. This is the opening through which feces passes when having a bowel movement. Anal cancer and rectal cancer are often confused, but rectal cancer is located above the anus.
Cancer of the anus is frequently connected to infection with the human papillomavirus HPV-16, this is the virus that is closely related to cervical cancer.
smoking
HPV infection
receiving anal intercourse
openings in the skin around the anal area
multiple sex partners
being over 50 years old
frequent redness, swelling, or soreness around the anus
abnormal discharge from the anus
anal pain, itching,and bleeding
lumps or bumps in the anal area
changes in bowel patterns Symptoms often lead the victim of anal cancer to seek care; however the disease may be detected during a routing digital exam of the rectum or anal pap test. When there is suspicion of anal cancer then an examination in which the anus is viewed directly through a lighted anoscope is called for. If called for, a biopsy may be conducted during this exam.
Radiation treatment, chemotherapy, and surgery are the three main ways of combating anal cancer. Radiation involves the used of high frequency beams directed at the cancer to shrink the cells and kill them. Radiation interrupts the ability of the cancer cells to reproduce. Usually anal cancer is treated through external beam radiation rather than internal radiation through radioactive seeds.
Chemotherapy may be used along with radiaton in the treatment of anal cancer. However, the side effects of nausea and hair loss can be more intense with chemotherapy.
Surgical removal of anal tumors is the least frequently used method of treatment although it is and option. When surgery is performed it is most often done along with radiation and chemotherapy.
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