wa news today: Anal Info: farrah fawcett, anal cancer. Hpv?

farrah fawcett, anal cancer. Hpv?So she dies, because of ?anal cancer? is that HPV related like it is to the cervix, and the cervical cancer battle?

Big Boy
Yes HPV as well as having anal sex among a few other reasons.

werd
no, HPV is what causes genital. anyone can get anal cancer, my boyfriend?s cousin is suffering from cancer of the bowels.

Julie
So sad but yes. . . people w/ HPV have a higher risk of developing Anal Cancer.

IDU
Yes it could be. Not sure in her particular case. See more on HPV here: http://www.examiner.com/x-7707-Tampa-Disease-Prevention-Examiner~y2009m5d17-20-million-cases-of-HPV-in-the-US-at-any-given-time

Lily L
Yep, the same HPV that causes cervical cancer cause anal cancer. And penile and vulvar and vaginal cancer.

tarnishedsilverheart
Yes, and anal cancer iss more common in women?than men who have sex with men. Both men and women who engage in anal sex are at a higher risk?and should insist on anal screening?seek a doctor that is an expert in this area of the body a proctologist or a colon/rectal doctor. Women who have not engaged in anal sex?but have a persistent HPV infection of the cervix?may also be of a higher risk.
Hopefully in our near future we will see the use of anal Paps as a way to detect abnormal cells early?so treatments are more successful.

Anal cancer is not the same a colon/rectal cancer.

A What Is Anal Cancer?
Anal cancer is a rare malignancy that starts in the anus ? the opening at the end of the rectum.

The American Cancer Society estimates that just 5,070 new cases of anal cancer occurred last year in the U.S. and just 680 people in the U.S. died from the disease.

By way of contrast, more than 40,700 new cases of rectal cancer were projected.

About half of all anal cancers are diagnosed before the malignancy has spread beyond the primary site, while about a third are diagnosed after the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes only and 10% are diagnosed after the cancer has spread to distant organs.

When it is found early, anal cancer is highly treatable.

According to the American Cancer Society, the overall five-year survival rate following diagnosis of anal cancer is 60% for men and 71% for women.

When the cancer is diagnosed in its earliest stage, five-year survival is 82%. If it has spread to surrounding lymph nodes, five-year survival drops to 60%. And when it has spread to distant organs, about one in five patients lives for five years or more.

Who Gets Anal Cancer?
Most anal cancers are diagnosed in people who are between 50 and 80. Before age 50, anal cancer is more common in men, but after age 50 it is slightly more common in women, says Debbie Saslow, PhD, director of breast and gynecological cancer at the American Cancer Society.

Anal infection with human papillomavirus ( HPV) is a major risk factor for the cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, 85% of anal cancers are associated with persistent infection with the sexually transmitted virus.

Although an HPV vaccine is now in use for the prevention of cervical cancer, it is not being given to prevent anal cancer.

According to both the American Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute, other risk factors for anal cancer include being over 50 years old, having many sexual partners, having receptive anal intercourse, having a weakened immune system, frequent anal redness and soreness, and being a smoker.

Some tumors that develop in the anus are noncancerous. Others start off as benign but develop into cancer over time.

What Are the Symptoms of Anal Cancer?
In some cases, there are no symptoms associated with anal cancer, but in about half of patients bleeding occurs and is often the first sign of the disease, according to the American Cancer Society.

Because anal itching can also be a symptom of the cancer, many people initially attribute their bleeding and itching to hemorrhoids.

Other signs and symptoms of anal cancer can include:

Pain or pressure in the anal area
Unusual discharges from the anus
Lump near the anus
Change in bowel habits

How Is Anal Cancer Diagnosed?
Anal cancer can be detected during a routine digital rectal exam or during a minor procedure, such as removal of what is believed to be a hemorrhoid.

The cancer may also be found with more invasive procedures such as an anoscopy, proctoscopy, or endorectal ultrasound.

If cancer is suspected, a biopsy will be done and will be examined by a pathologist.

How Is Anal Cancer Treated?
Standard treatments for anal cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.

According to the American Cancer Society, treatment usually involves two or more of these treatment strategies.

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy is the most widely used approach to initial treatment.
WebMD Medical Reference

Women with CIN at Higher Risk for Anal Cancer and Other Cancers
CancerConsultants.com ? News 3/22/2007
According to an early online publication in Lancet Oncology, women diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 3 are at an increased risk of developing vaginal, vulvar, and anal cancers. Further research into the impact of the human papillomaviruses on these risks is underway.
Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia refers to pre-cancerous or abnormal cells on the surface of the cervix cell layer. The different grades of CIN refer to the severity of the cells? abnormality as viewed by a microscope as well as the depth of the abnormal cell layer. CIN3 refers to the highest grade of cellular abnormality, which is often treated in order to avoid progression to cervical cancer.
Because the human papillomavirus (HPV) is thought to play an extensive role in the development of CIN3, researchers c

K13
HPV has been proven to cause many types of cancer including cervical, rectal, colon, oral and pharyngeal (throat) cancers. Lots of research is being done in this field and scientists are hoping that this may lead to better ?cancer vaccines? such as Gardasil.

virgogrrrl
She did die of anal cancer, however only 85% of the cases of anal cancer are caused by an HPV strand, so it is possible she did not have HVP.
HPV is very common though, so who knows?
Her doctors.

HPV can cause cervical, anal, oral cancers. Some strands of the disease do cause genital warts. It just depends on which form of the virus someone has.
About 95% of hpv diseases can be found off by the immune system, but those persisting infections are the ones that will cause cancer.

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