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FACTS, FICTION & FABLES

LEADING THE WAY IN ANAL PRECANCER SCREENING AND TREATMENT

ANAL PRECANCER IS MUCH MORE EASILY TREATED WHEN CAUGHT EARLY, BEFORE SYMPTOMS DEVELOP.

ANAL PRECANCER IS MUCH MORE EASILY TREATED WHEN CAUGHT EARLY, BEFORE SYMPTOMS DEVELOP.

TWO THIRDS OF ANAL CANCER CASES ARE AMONG WOMEN.

"I’m a woman so I’m not at risk to get Anal Cancer."

"I’m a woman so I’m not at risk to get Anal Cancer."

FOR HIV+ WOMEN, ANAL PRECANCEROUS CELLS ARE EVEN MORE COMMON THAN CERVICAL PRECANCEROUS CELLS.

FOR HIV+ WOMEN, ANAL PRECANCEROUS CELLS ARE EVEN MORE COMMON THAN CERVICAL PRECANCEROUS CELLS.

WHAT IS HPV?

Human Papillomavirus is a group of sexually transmitted viruses. HPV is one of the most common STI’s in the world. There are 2 types of HPV, high-risk and low-risk. Low-risk HPV can cause genital and anal warts. High-risk HPV can cause anal precancer. At least 90% of all anal cancers are caused by high-risk HPV. For this reason, precancer screening in high-risk groups is so important to prevent anal cancer.

“I have HIV but CD4 is above 200 and I feel great so I cannot have anal precancer.”

“I have HIV but CD4 is above 200 and I feel great so I cannot have anal precancer.”

50% OF HIV+ MEN HAVE ANAL PRECANCER AND ALMOST ALL ARE SYMPTOM-FREE.

WHO ARE THE HIGH-RISK GROUPS?

  • Persons living with HIV
  • HIV negative men who have sex with men (MSM)
  • Women with a history of vulvar, vaginal, or cervical cancer.
  • Women with a history of vulvar precancer (HSIL)
  • Persons 10 years after an organ transplant

HPV is spread by skin-to-skin contact. When you rub and touch the anal area with fingers, tongue, toys, or penis, you can spread HPV.

What if I am not sexually active or do not have anal sex?

What if I am not sexually active or do not have anal sex?

High-resolution anoscopy (HRA) is a procedure where the provider evaluates anal and perianal tissues under magnification to look for anal precancer.

High-resolution anoscopy (HRA) is a procedure where the provider evaluates anal and perianal tissues under magnification to look for anal precancer.

What is an HRA?

Can we prevent anal cancer?

We can reduce the incidence of anal cancer in HIV+ people by 57% if we treat anal precancer and believe that other high-risk groups will have the same outcome.

We can reduce the incidence of anal cancer in HIV+ people by 57% if we treat anal precancer and believe that other high-risk groups will have the same outcome.

HOW DO WE TREAT ANAL PRECANCER?

There are a variety of treatment options for treating anal precancer. At ADC MidWest we most commonly use electrocautery to remove anal precancer.