5 Symptoms Of Anal Cancer That You Need To Know About

You almost never hear about anal cancer. It is a silent disease and it does not have the same high incidence rates as lung or breast cancer and it is something that you should be aware of.

According to The Spanish Association Against Cancer, anal cancer accounts for 1.9% of all tumors in the digestive tract.

Although this is not a very large number, be aware that rates of this disease have increased in recent years due to risk factors such as:

• Use of tobacco
• Longer life expectancy
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection

It affects more men than women, but is more common in women over 50 years of age.

The biggest problem with anal cancer is that it often progresses without obvious symptoms.

What’s more, people who often have hemorrhoids mistakenly attribute the bleeding and swelling to hemorrhoids and therefore they never seek the medical care that the situation requires.

Since information is our most powerful tool, let’s take a look at some of the key characteristics of this disease.

Anal cancer, the silent disease

We have often not paid much attention to our bodily processes. We go to the toilet without thinking about checking the stool for irregularities or traces of blood.

The anus is not only where the body expels feces; We need to keep in mind that it is a part of our gut, especially the colon.

Its annular muscles are composed of several cells that, for various reasons, can undergo genetic changes that produce abnormal cells or cancer cells.

There are certain risk factors we can control, but as you know with cancer, it is not always dependent on a healthy lifestyle.

There are other factors we can overlook and whatever the cause, this causes the disease to develop. This is why it is so important to be aware of the symptoms.

1. Bleeding

This is the most important symptom you need to know. Occasional bleeding can be caused by other factors, so getting a proper diagnosis is important.

• Sometimes the bleeding is caused by hemorrhoids, a simple infection or other disease that a specialist will be able to correctly diagnose.
• It is important to consult your doctor about this problem as soon as it appears.

Feeling of fullness

Most patients who have developed anal cancer experience a feeling of bloating in the rectal area. It is from a lot of growing inside that causes discomfort and itching.

• Sometimes these masses obstruct the intestinal passage in such a way that a person can even lose control of their anal muscles.

• At first, it is barely noticeable. Most people wait for up to 6 months when the symptoms are more obvious before seeing their doctor.

3. The appearance of “warts”

Anal cancer is often associated with the appearance of warts in the anal region. They can develop in the intestine by themselves or externally, causing discomfort.

Many patients confuse them with plain abscesses, but it is important to keep track of them.

Do not be embarrassed to talk to your doctor. It will give you peace of mind.

4. Changes in stool

We have all experienced small fluctuations in our gut passage from time to time. Everyone occasionally experiences constipation or diarrhea. This is normal.

• Things to worry about include loss of control over the anal muscles and incontinence.
• As the tumors progress, the patient may experience fluid secretions in the anal area.

5. Itching

Symptoms in the lower half of the body include fatigue in the lower back, pressure on the abdomen and itching in the anal area.

• Itching is often attributed to hemorrhoids, so many people resort to the classic creams and treatments to relieve the discomfort of a health problem that is often not shared with others.
• We need to emphasize once again the importance of consulting your doctor at the first sign of any of these symptoms.

An early diagnosis increases the chances of treatment success and your survival.

In a few cases, anal cancer is not diagnosed until advanced stages when the tumor has reached lymph nodes. In these cases, treatment is often far more aggressive.

Medical knowledge is improving every day and new technologies, treatments and medicines are constantly evolving.