Overview
Anal cancer is a rare cancer caused by the presence of the human papillomavirus (HPV) in the body.
The anal canal is a short tube, averaging about 2 cm long in women and 3 cm in men, into which the rectum passes. The anal canal is formed by a muscular complex, which includes two sphincters (internal and external) and the most distant bundles of levators (muscles that lift the anus). Sphincters, like two rings, are located one above the other and are separated by a special anatomical structure - a jagged line, which allows you to feel the urge to defecate.
This disease is often associated with a decrease in immunity, for example, after an organ transplant or while taking medication. Other risk factors are:
• Cervical dysplasia as an HPV-associated condition;
• Autoimmune diseases (eg, systemic lupus erythematosus);
• Rheumatoid arthritis;
• Ulcerative colitis ;
• Anal canal polyps;
• Smoking cigarettes ;
• Severe course of the fistulous form of Crohn's disease
• Anal cancer is not a hereditary disease, its development is associated primarily with HPV.
Anal cancer is 100% fatal if untreated. But malignant tumors of this localization can be completely cured if therapy is started on time. According to statistics, this disease most often develops after 45 years, but people between 35 and 44 years old make up 10% of patients.
The spread of the malignant process to the lymph nodes is diagnosed in 15-30% of patients at the time of diagnosis. Distant metastases to other organs, such as the lungs, liver, and bones, occur in 10-17% of cases. With prolonged growth, the tumor can damage the elements of the sphincter apparatus, which regulates the process of defecation.