What Is Anal Cancer

Anal cancer occurs in the anus, the end of the gastrointestinal tract. Anal cancer is very different from colorectal cancer, which is much more common. Anal cancer's causes, risk factors, clinical progression, staging and treatment are all very different from colorectal cancer. Anal cancer is a lump which is created by the abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells in the anus.
Anal cancer is very rare. In the UK approximately 800 patients are diagnosed annually, out of a total population of 61 million (2009). According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 5,070 new cases of anal cancers were diagnosed in the USA in 2008, of which about 60% were women. Most anal cancer patients are diagnosed in their early 60s. Approximately 680 people died from anal cancer in the USA in 2008. The USA has a population of 300 million (2009). Reports indicate that the incidence of this type of cancer is rising. The number of anal cancer cases is increasing in both sexes, particularly among American men, and changing trends in sexual behavior.