Anal Cancer

Risk Factors

Some of the risk factors associated with anal cancer are:

• Advanced age, as anal cancer generally occurs in people above the age of 50 years
• Multiple sexual partners
• Excessive smoking
• Engagement in anal sex
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection
• History of certain cancers, such as vulvar, cervical, and vaginal
• Compromised immune system either due to diseases, such as HIV or due to the administration of immunosuppressant drugs after an organ transplant
• Chronic inflammation in the anal region due to conditions such as anal fistula or open wounds