Breaking the Silence: What Everyone Needs to Know About Anal Cancer

Posted on November 21, 2025

Hi everyone,

Today I’m writing about a cancer that is still whispered about (if it’s discussed at all): anal cancer. It’s rare, it’s rising, it carries huge stigma, and yet it is one of the most preventable cancers we know. My goal with this post is to share straight facts, reduce the shame, and hopefully help even one person catch it early — or better yet, prevent it completely.

If you’re here because you’re worried about symptoms, supporting someone who’s been diagnosed, or just want the facts — you are not alone, and I’m glad you’re here.

The Facts About Anal Cancer in 2025

Anal cancer starts in the lining of the anal canal (the short tube at the very end of the rectum). It is not the same as colon or rectal cancer.

• Approximately 10,930 new cases expected in the U.S. in 2025 (American Cancer Society)
• Roughly 2,030 deaths projected this year
• More common in women (∼7,370 cases) than men (∼3,560 cases)
• Incidence has been rising 2–3 % per year for decades
• Over 90 % of cases are caused by HPV (human papillomavirus) — the same virus that causes cervical cancer

Symptoms — Don’t Mistake Them for Hemorrhoids

Far too many people wait months or even years because they think “it’s just piles.” Common warning signs:

• Bright red blood on toilet paper or in the bowl
• Itching, pain, soreness or burning around the anus
• A lump or growth near the anus
• Change in bowel habits (thinner stools, feeling of incomplete emptying)
• Unusual discharge or sores
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If something feels wrong for more than 2–3 weeks → see a doctor. A quick exam can save your life.

Risk Factors (It Can Happen to Anyone)

• Persistent high-risk HPV infection
• Receptive anal intercourse (increases HPV exposure)
• Smoking (doubles the risk)
• HIV or weakened immune system
• History of cervical, vulvar, or vaginal cancer/pre-cancer
• Multiple sexual partners over a lifetime

Important: You do not need to have had anal sex to get anal cancer. HPV spreads through any intimate skin-to-skin contact.

The Best News: It Is Largely Preventable

1. HPV vaccine (Gardasil-9) – protects against the strains that cause >90 % of anal cancers. Approved up to age 45.
2. Safer sex practices (condoms help, though not 100 % protection)
3. Quit smoking
4. Regular screening (anal Pap or high-resolution anoscopy) for high-risk groups

Treatment & Survival

Standard treatment = chemoradiation (chemo + radiation together). It’s intense but highly effective and usually preserves the sphincter.

5-year survival rate: ~70–80 % overall, much higher when caught early.

Real Thriver Stories That Inspire

• Actress Marcia Cross (Desperate Housewives) — went public to fight stigma
• Lillian Kreppel — founded the HPV Cancers Alliance after beating stage II
• Hundreds of everyday heroes sharing day-by-day journeys on the Anal Cancer Foundation site

→ Read dozens of thriver stories here

It’s Time to End the Stigma

Anal cancer is not “dirty” or something to hide — it’s an HPV-related cancer, just like cervical cancer used to be before vaccines and screening. Shame delays diagnosis and costs lives.

By talking openly (yes, even saying the word anus), we save lives.

Helpful Resources

• Anal Cancer Foundation (mentorship program with survivors)
• American Cancer Society – Anal Cancer
• National Cancer Institute
• CDC HPV Vaccine Info

You are braver than you know for reading this. If this post helps even one person get checked or vaccinated, it was worth writing.

Feel free to share, comment (anonymously is totally fine), ask questions, or share your own experience. Let’s keep the conversation going. 💜

With hope and zero shame,
Radiotherapy insights.