Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffAnal cancer is an uncommon type of cancer that occurs in the anal canal. The anal canal is a short tube at the end of your rectum through which stool leaves your body.
Anal cancer can cause signs and symptoms such as rectal bleeding and anal pain. Anal cancer symptoms may mimic those of more common conditions, such as hemorrhoids. For this reason, people with anal cancer may not see their doctors right away.
Most cases of anal cancer are diagnosed at an early stage — when treatment provides the best chance for a cure. Most people with anal cancer are treated with a combination of chemotherapy and radiation.
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