People often refer toHPVas the “cervical cancervirus.” However, that’s a misnomer. HPV is associated with a number of cancers in both women and men, including anal cancer. Anal cancer risk is associated with the practice of unprotected(condomless) anal sex.
While the exact cause of anal cancer is not known, there are certain factors that increase the risk. This includes HPV infection. However, just over 10% of anal cancers are not due to HPV infections.
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How Common Is Anal Cancer?
Until recently, cervical cancer was thought to be the main cancer risk associated with HPV infection.Anal cancersand other genital cancers were thought to be relatively rare. However, although the overall anal cancer rate is still low, in certain populations the risk of anal cancer is actually quite high.
For example, HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) have been reported to have anal cancer rates that are very high.In fact, they’re three times those of the highest cervical cancer rate seen in the general population.
It is hard to pin down the overall incidence of anal cancer, since it varies strongly between countries and between populations. However, the National Cancer Institute estimates that there were 8,300 new cases of anal cancer in 2019, along with 1,280 deaths. This translates to about 2 new cases, and 0.3 deaths, per 100,000 people each year.
Several other things are clear. The risk of anal cancer is slightly higher in women and in black men, while it occurs most often in women and men who are over age 55.In addition, the incidence of these cancers is on the rise. According to the National Cancer Institute, rates of new anal cancer diagnoses have risen 2.2% each year during the past decade.It is estimated that approximately 88% of anal cancers are associated withHPV infection, which is also on the rise.
Risk Factors
Factors that increase a person’s risk for developing anal cancer include:
However, it’s important to know that it is possible to end up with an anal HPV infection and even anal cancer even if you have never had receptive anal sex. The virus can migrate from other genital areas such as the vaginal canal or the perineum.
Will an Anal HPV Infection Definitely Lead to Cancer?
Just as has been seen withcervical HPV infections, only a small number of anal HPV infections progress and become cancerous. Most infections in heterosexual men and women clear within 6 months to a year. Infections tend to last longer in MSM for reasons that are not well understood.
Therefore, even if you are diagnosed with an anal HPV infection, it is highly unlikely that you will develop cancer. That is true even if an anal pap smear detects abnormal cells. A large number of low-grade interepithelial neoplasias regress to normal and do not progress to become cancerous.
How to Reduce Your Risk
There are three very good ways to which people can reduce their risk of developing anal cancer. The first is to always use condoms during sex. That’s particularly true for anal sex, but also for any type of genital sex. This practice can’t entirely eliminate the risk of HPV infections, which are passed fromskin to skin. Still, it can significantly reduce the likelihood of infection.
The other major way to reduce your risk of anal cancer is to be vaccinated with anHPV vaccine. Ideally, individuals should be vaccinated as adolescents — long before they have become sexually active.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.D’Souza G, Wiley DJ, Li X, et al.Incidence and epidemiology of anal cancer in the multicenter AIDS cohort study.J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2008;48(4):491-499. doi:10.1097/QAI.0b013e31817aebfeNational Cancer Institute.Cancer Stat Facts: Anal Cancer.Alemany L, Saunier M, Alvarado-Cabrero I, et al.Human papillomavirus DNA prevalence and type distribution in anal carcinomas worldwide.Int J Cancer. 2015;136(1):98-107. doi:10.1002/ijc.28963Texas Oncology. Anal Cancer Fact Sheet.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.D’Souza G, Wiley DJ, Li X, et al.Incidence and epidemiology of anal cancer in the multicenter AIDS cohort study.J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2008;48(4):491-499. doi:10.1097/QAI.0b013e31817aebfeNational Cancer Institute.Cancer Stat Facts: Anal Cancer.Alemany L, Saunier M, Alvarado-Cabrero I, et al.Human papillomavirus DNA prevalence and type distribution in anal carcinomas worldwide.Int J Cancer. 2015;136(1):98-107. doi:10.1002/ijc.28963Texas Oncology. Anal Cancer Fact Sheet.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
D’Souza G, Wiley DJ, Li X, et al.Incidence and epidemiology of anal cancer in the multicenter AIDS cohort study.J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2008;48(4):491-499. doi:10.1097/QAI.0b013e31817aebfeNational Cancer Institute.Cancer Stat Facts: Anal Cancer.Alemany L, Saunier M, Alvarado-Cabrero I, et al.Human papillomavirus DNA prevalence and type distribution in anal carcinomas worldwide.Int J Cancer. 2015;136(1):98-107. doi:10.1002/ijc.28963Texas Oncology. Anal Cancer Fact Sheet.
D’Souza G, Wiley DJ, Li X, et al.Incidence and epidemiology of anal cancer in the multicenter AIDS cohort study.J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2008;48(4):491-499. doi:10.1097/QAI.0b013e31817aebfe
National Cancer Institute.Cancer Stat Facts: Anal Cancer.
Alemany L, Saunier M, Alvarado-Cabrero I, et al.Human papillomavirus DNA prevalence and type distribution in anal carcinomas worldwide.Int J Cancer. 2015;136(1):98-107. doi:10.1002/ijc.28963
Texas Oncology. Anal Cancer Fact Sheet.
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