Anal Cancer Prevention

How to Prevent Anal Cancer

The best way to prevent anal cancer is to avoid the risk factors for the disease. There are many risk factors for anal cancer and many can be avoided. Unfortunately, not all risk factors can be avoided, like age.

Risk Factors for Anal Cancer

• smoking cigarettes
  
• infection with the HPV virus
  
• receiving anal intercourse
  
• abnormal openings in or around the anus (fistulas)
  
• having multiple sexual partners
  
• being over 50 years of age
  
• anal swelling, redness or soreness that occurs frequently

Anal Cancer Prevention Tips

Always use a condom. Wearing a condom may provide protection against HPV. HPV is a virus transmitted through sexual contact that is linked to several types of cancer.

Limit the amount of sexual partners you have. When a person has multiple sexual partners, they are at an increased risk for both HPV and anal cancer.

Avoid anal intercourse. Anal intercourse increases the risk factor for anal cancer for both men and women.

Quit smoking. According to the American Cancer Society, smokers are 4 times more likely to develop anal cancer than non-smokers. Smoking puts you at a higher risk for many other types of cancer like lung cancer.