Anal cancer is no longer rare
The new study found that the case of anal cancer is rising day by day in the United States and mostly young black men and older people are diagnosed with it.
Researchers researching on it for the last 15 years and identified more than 65,000 people suffered from anal cancer-causing 12000 deaths due to it and the number is still rising.
The study’s lead author and UT Health School Of Public Health professor, Ashish A. Deshmukh said that many people are still not aware of anal cancer, and ‘it is mostly neglected’ and it is called rare, which is why people know so little about it.
He added that the rapid rise in the number of patients especially in black men and white women is shocking and he was concerned about it.
Deshmukh said that at this stage they couldn’t find the reason behind the rapid rise of the disease. The possible reason include is ‘risky sexual behavior’ and an increase in obesity rates.
What causes anal cancer
According to the study, anal cancer is different from rectal cancer and more similar to cervical cancer.
Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common anal cancer which is caused by the Human papillomavirus, in short, HPV.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 90% of anal cancer cases are caused by HPV.
Deshmukh says it is a shocking fact that more than 75% of US citizens have no idea that anal cancer was caused by HPV. To educate people about it, educational campaigns and awareness are needed.