Anal Cancer

Anal Cancer: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

The anus is part of the digestive tract where food waste and water reach the small and large intestines after absorption, respectively. The anus forms the outlet of the gastrointestinal tract or rectal canal at the end of the anus. Food waste is temporarily deposited in the anus before being passed through the anus, outside the anus as feces.
Rectal cancer is a rare condition in which, due to certain genetic mutations, normal cells in the anus begin to grow abnormally at an uncontrolled rate.
Rectal cancer is more common in men aged 50-60 years. About 50% of rectal cancers are diagnosed at an early stage while 15-30% of cancers have spread and about 10-20% at advanced stages.

Different types of rectal cancer

Squamous cell carcinomas: This is the most common type that develops in cells around the rectal margin and rectal canal.

Stages of Disorder:

Rectal cancer has four stages as shown below:

Causes and Risk Factors

Cancer develops when normal, healthy cells grow at an uncontrolled rate due to genetic mutations. Unlike healthy and normal cells, these abnormal cells do not die and accumulate to form a mass of cells (tumor).

Age: Most of these cancers are diagnosed in people over the age of 50
Rectal infection with human papillomavirus (HPV): This STV is said to be the most common cause of cancer, including cervical cancer. It can also cause genital warts
It is very unusual for rectal cancer to metastasize to distant parts of the body. However, these tumors spread to the liver and lungs and are very difficult to treat.

Signs and Symptoms

A person with cancer may experience the following symptoms:

Bleeding from the rectum or anus
Pain in the rectal or abdominal region (for rectal cancer)
Itching in the anus
A mass or growth in the rectal canal
changes in bowel habits (constipation or diarrhea); Urgency in bowel movements
The sensation of defecation even after emptying
Sudden discharge from the back passage or difficulty controlling the bowels
If any of these symptoms bother you, you should talk to your doctor immediately.

Which specialist should be consulted for signs and symptoms?

The doctor will refer the patient to a gastroenterologist, a doctor who specializes in treating diseases of the digestive system. Further diagnosis and testing may require the expertise of an oncologist (specialist in cancer treatment).

Diagnosis

Cancer is diagnosed based on the following tests and procedures:

Physical exam: With a digital rectal exam, the doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the patient’s rectum to feel for any lumps or growths.
Visual inspection of the anus and rectum: Using a short, lighted tube called an anoscope, proctoscope, or sigmoidoscope, the doctor inspects the anus and anal canal for abnormal changes.
Treatment Options

The treatment regimen recommended for a patient depends on the stage of cancer and the patient’s physical condition. Treatment consists of:

Radiation therapy: This treatment uses high-energy X-rays or other types of radiation to destroy cancer cells.  When injected into a vein or taken directly by mouth, these drugs dissolve in the bloodstream and target cancer cells throughout the body. When placed directly into an organ or body cavity, it affects cancer cells in that area.
Surgery
Local resection: This involves removing a tumor from the rectum with some healthy tissue. This is only applicable when the tumor is small and has not yet spread.
Abdominoperineal resection: This involves the removal of the rectum, anus, and part of the sigmoid colon through a surgical cut in the abdomen.

Complications associated with treatment options

Radiation treatment can cause redness and sores in the skin around the anus and anus, along with changes in the rectal canal.

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