Cancer that occurs in the anal canal, a short tube at the end of rectum, the lower part of the digestive system.

Symptoms

If you are experiencing new, severe, or persistent symptoms, contact a health care provider.

The symptoms include:

• Anal or rectal bleeding
• Pain in the anus
• Mass in the anal canal
• Feeling of fullness in the anus
• Anal itching
• Changes in bowel movements

Causes

• Results from genetic mutation that leads to formation of abnormal cells from normal healthy cells
• These abnormal cell multiply rapidly forming a tumour or mass
• Cancer cells can invade other nearby body organs hence spreading to other body parts (metastasize)
• Human papillomavirus may also cause anal cancer
• Risk factors for development of anal cancer include:
• Older age- people around 50 years or order are at high risk
• Having many sexual partners
• Having anal sex
• Having had cancer previously such as cervical, vulvar, or vaginal Cancer

Prevention

Anal cancer has no means of prevention, but the following practices help reduce the risk:

• Practice safe sex by use of condoms
• Vaccination against HPV: Protects against HPV infection
• Avoid smoking

Screening Options available at JNCHRC

• Anoscopy: Visual inspection of anal canal and rectum.
• Ultrasound: Uses sound waves to take pictures of the anal canal.
• CT scan: To determine if the cancer has spread.
• Biopsy: Removal of a sample for laboratory testing.