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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.
About 5,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with anal cancer each year, according to the National Cancer Institute. The incidence of anal cancer is increasing, though it isn't clear why.
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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