The risk factor is anything that affects your chance of getting a disease like cancer. Different cancers have different risk factors. For example, exposure to strong sunlight is a risk factor for skin cancer. Smoking is a risk factor for lung cancer and many other types of cancer. But risk factors do not tell everything. Having a risk factor, or even several risk factors does not mean that you will get cancer. In addition, people without risk factors can develop cancer.
infection with human papilloma virus
The majority of anal squamous cell cancers have been linked to infection with human papilloma virus (HPV), the same virus that causes cervical cancer. In fact, women with a history of cervical cancer (or pre-cancer) are at increased risk of anal cancer.
HPV is a group of more than 100 related viruses. They are called papilloma viruses because some of them cause papillomas, which are more commonly known as warts. There are several subtypes of the virus, but the most likely to cause anal cancer is called HPV-16, one. HPV-16 and HPV 18, HPV 31, HPV 33 and HPV 45 are considered high-risk types of HPV, since they are strongly linked to cancer. They can also cause cancer of the cervix, vagina and vulva in women and penile cancer in men.
Other subtypes of HPV can cause warts in the genital and anal area. The medical term for warts is condyloma acuminatum. The two types of HPV that cause most cases of anal and genital warts are HPV 6 and HPV 11. They are called low-risk types of HPV, as they tend to cause warts but not cancer. HPV can cause anal and genital warts, but most people infected with HPV do not have genital warts or other signs of infection.
HPV is passed from one person to another during skin contact with the infected area of the body. HPV can be spread during sex - including vaginal intercourse, anal and oral sex - but sex does not have to occur for the infection from spreading. All you need is to have skin to skin contact with infected body area with HPV. HPV infection seems to be able to spread from one body part to another - for example, infection can begin in the genitals and then spread to the anus. The only way to completely prevent anal HPV infection and genital never allow another person to have contact with those areas of the body.
HPV infection is common, and in most cases the body is able to eliminate the infection by itself. But in some cases the infection remains and becomes chronic. Chronic infection, especially when you're with the HPV types of high risk over time can cause certain cancers, including anal cancer.
For men, the two main factors influencing the risk of HPV infection are genital circumcision and the number of sexual partners. Men who are circumcised (have had the foreskin removed) are less likely to become and remain infected with HPV. The risk of being infected with HPV is also strongly linked to having multiple sexual partners (for the life of a man.)
For women, certain factors have been linked with an increased risk of genital HPV infection, such as:
* Starting to have sex at an early age
* Having multiple sexual partners
* Having sex with a partner who has had many other partners
* Having sex with uncircumcised men
In a study that analyzed risk factors for anal HPV infection in women, the risk was higher in younger women and those who were more than five lifetime sexual partners. Always having anal sex is also a greater risk.
Circumcision and HPV: Men who are circumcised are more likely to be infected with HPV and pass it to their partners. The reasons for this are unclear. It may be that the skin on the glans penis through changes that make it more resistant to infection with HPV. Another theory is that the surface of the foreskin (which is removed by circumcision) is more easily infected by HPV. However, circumcision does not protect completely against infection with HPV - men who are circumcised can get HPV and pass it to their partners.
Condoms and HPV: Condoms may provide some protection against HPV, but not completely prevent infection. One study found that when condoms are used correctly, can reduce the rate of genital HPV infection in women by 70% - but it is necessary to use sex all the time occurs. This study did not analyze the effect of condom use in anal HPV infection. In another study, men who used condoms less than half of the time had an increased risk of HPV infection. Condoms can not completely protect, and not covering all possible areas infected by HPV in the body such as the skin of the genital or anal area. However, condoms provide some protection against HPV, and also protect against HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Condoms (when used by the male partner) also appear to help clear genital HPV infections (away) faster in women and men.
Other cancers
Every time you have cancer of the cervix, vagina or vulva is associated with an increased risk of anal cancer. This is likely because these cancers are caused by infection with HPV. Although it is likely that cancer of the penis, which is also linked to HPV infection, increase the risk of anal cancer, this link has not been proven in studies.
HIV infection
People infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS, are much more likely to develop anal cancer than those not infected with this virus. effective drug treatment for HIV has decreased the risk for many diseases related to AIDS, but has not lowered the rate of anal cancer.
Sexual activity
Having multiple sexual partners increases the risk of infection with HIV and HPV. It also increases the risk of anal cancer.
Receptive anal sex increases the risk of anal cancer in men and women, especially those under 30 years of age.
Smoking
Smoking also increases the risk of anal cancer. Smokers are much more likely to have anal cancer compared with nonsmokers. Quitting smoking reduces the risk. People who used to smoke but have quit are only slightly more likely to develop cervical cancer compared with never smokers.
Decreased immunity
The highest rates of anal cancer occur in people with reduced immunity, such as people who have had organ transplants and take medications that suppress their immune system.
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