Anal cancer occurs due to a genetic mutation in the anal cells which causes normal cells to turn abnormal. Abnormal anal cells then grow out of control and form tumors. These cancer cells can attack the surrounding tissue to spread to other body parts.
What is anal cancer?
Anal cancer, is a type of cancer found in the anal canal. The types of anal cancer depend on various types of cancer cells found in the body. The types of cancer in the anal canal are mainly epidermal cancer, adenocarcinoma, melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma (flat cells), and verruca carcinoma.
Anal cancer is rare and affects more women than men. Anal cancer can attack patients at any age. The disease can be overcome by reducing your risk factors.
What are the symptoms of anal cancer?
- Changes in your bowel habits, such as frequent diarrhea, constipation or more frequent bowel movements
- Dark or red blood in feces
- Sudden mucous discharge from the anus
- Pain when defecating
- Stomach ache
- Having iron deficiency anemia
- Your weight has dropped dramatically
- It's easy to feel weak or tired
In addition to the above, you need to contact your doctor if you experience various symptoms of anal cancer such as:
- Bleeding
- Itchy
- Discharge from the anus
Pain in the rectum or anus or lump or rectal lump can also be a sign or symptom of anal cancer. Some other symptoms or signs may not be listed above. If you feel anxious about these symptoms, immediately consult your doctor.
Anal cancer is generally caused by infection with human papillomavirus (HPV). In addition, there are other habits that can increase the risk of anal cancer. Here are some of them.
Anal Sex
People who have anal sex have a high risk of anal cancer. Anal sex is actually not recommended because it can make bleeding cause hemorrhoids. The reason is because the anus does not have as much lubricant as Miss V, so it is not a suitable place for inserting genitals.
Change Sexual Couples Often
Besides anal cancer, this habit increases the risk of transmission of sexually transmitted infections such as HIV / AIDS, gonorrhea, syphilis, and others. That's why you are recommended to use a condom when having sex to reduce the risk of HPV infection.
Smoking habit
Not many people know that cancer-causing chemicals in tobacco smoke can move from the lungs to other organs. Smoking also decreases the immune system, including when fighting HPV infection.
Apart from the various habits above, here are other risk factors for anal cancer.
- Weak immune system. The immune system functions to fight disease infections. This means that the weak immune system increases the risk of infection, including anal cancer. A weak immune system due to HIV infection or side effects of immunosuppressant drugs (such as corticosteroids) can also cause a person to become infected with anal cancer compared to people whose immune systems are in good condition.
- Having genital warts. Genital warts that appear on the anus are usually caused due to anal sex. Anal sex is a bridge to the transmission of the HPV virus. That is why people with genital warts due to HPV are at risk of developing anal cancer.
- Women with higher potential for anal cancer than men.
- Anal cancer often occurs in elderly people. This means the risk of getting infected with anal cancer increases with age.
- Has a history of cancer. People with cervical cancer have a higher risk of developing anal cancer.
Those three habits increase the risk of infection with anal cancer. Besides not being recommended in terms of health, anal sex is a deviant sexual behavior.