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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Anal 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.
References
- Deng GE, et al. Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for integrative oncology: Complementary therapies and botanicals. Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology. 2009;7:85.
- Anal carcinoma. Fort Washington, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/anal.pdf. Accessed Oct. 19, 2010.
- Anal cancer treatment (PDQ). National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/anal/patient. Accessed Oct. 19, 2010.
- Malik U, et al. Cancer of the anal canal. In: Abeloff MD, et al. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2008:1557.
- Gardasil (prescribing information). Whitehouse Station, N.J.: Merck & Co. Inc.; 2009. http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/g/gardasil/gardasil_pi.pdf. Accessed Oct. 20, 2010.
- Cervarix (prescribing information). Research Triangle Park, N.C.: GlaxoSmithKline; 2009. http://us.gsk.com/products/assets/us_cervarix.pdf. Accessed Oct. 20, 2010.
- Joseph DA, et al. Understanding the burden of human papillomavirus-associated anal cancers in the U.S. Cancer. 2008;113(suppl):2892.
- Moynihan TJ (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Oct. 28, 2010.
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