Anal cancer among the gay and bisexual men

Gay and bisexual men, especially those with HIV, are at significantly higher risk for anal cancer than the general population.

Statistics show that the rate for anal cancer in gay and bisexual men (without HIV) is about the same as the rates of cervical cancer in women before pap smears became routine. Routine pap smears have decreased the incidence of cervical cancer from 30-40 per 100,000 women to approximately 8 per 100,000.

The incidence of anal cancer among gay and bisexual men who are long-term HIV survivors has increased greatly. This is probably due in part to the fact that men are now surviving longer with recent effective HIV treatments, and are thus experiencing rising rates of other, previously uncommon cancers.

Anal cancer and cervical cancer are caused by the same viruses-"high risk" varieties of the human papillomavirus (HPV). There are many different strains of HPV-most of which cause harmless warts in various places on the body (e.g., feet, hands, genitals). A few high risk strains of HPV can lead to anal cancer or cervical cancer if not caught and treated early. Most often, though, infection even with those "high risk" strains of HPV doesn't result in cancer.
Men become infected with anal HPV through receptive anal intercourse. One study estimates that approximately 95 percent of gay men with HIV and 65 percent of gay men without HIV have HPV in their anal canals or the surrounding skin.

Recommendations for gay and bisexual men

Recommendations for routine testing of gay and bisexual men are as yet uncertain, as this is an area of ongoing and active research, and no standards have yet been adopted.
What is an anal pap test and how are lesions and warts treated?
Warts are mostly caused by "low risk" strains of HPV that do not lead to cancer. However, they often need to be treated. Treatment usually consists of freezing them with liquid nitrogen, or the use of surgery or cautery.

Anal cancer is caused by "high risk" strains of HPV that can only be detected with an anal Pap test. In this procedure, a health care provider passes a swab into the rectum and collects cells. These cells are then put on a slide that is examined by an experienced pathologist in a lab under a microscope.

It takes many years for pre-cancerous anal lesions to develop into cancer. If the cells show changes of the kind that could lead to cancer, the patient should undergo a thorough rectal exam by an experienced proctologist. If the problem is caught early, before a cancer develops, it can easily be treated in a doctor's office.

Treatment for these anal lesions varies from simple in-office procedures, such as freezing the cells or applying a topical cream, to surgery or biopsy, if the lesions are widespread. Treatment is very effective in removing lesions, but they may come back in the same or other areas, so it is important to continue to have regular screenings. Persons with advanced tumors will often need other treatment.

Article from :
http://www.metrokc.gov/health/glbT/analcancer.htm

Anal Cancer Sign & Symptoms

Although rare, anal cancer is becoming more prevalent in the United States and many other developing countries. The condition develops in the tissues of the anus, which is a short tube that connects the lower part of the large intestine, known as the rectum, to the outside of the body. The anus allows the controlled disposal of body waste during bowel movements.

Like cervix cancer, the principal cause of anal cancer is human papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus that causes changes in the skin. Anal HPV infection is most commonly acquired through anal intercourse, but it can also be acquired from other genital areas that are infected, particularly from the vulva in women, or from the penis in men. Fingers, toys, etc., can probably lead to anal HPV infection as well. Research suggests that sexually active individuals, both men and women, may be at risk for HPV. The good news is that only a fraction of people with anal HPV infection will develop a lasting case of anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) -- a precursor to anal cancer -- and even fewer will develop anal cancer.

Other risk factors for anal cancer include:

• Men and women with a history of anal intercourse
• Men and women with a history of perianal warts, which are found outside the anus
• Women with a history of vulvar warts, which are found outside the female genitals
• Men and women who are chronically immunocompromised, such as those taking
• immunosuppressive medications, and those who are HIV positive, or have received organ transplants

Additional risk factors include being over 50 years of age, having many sexual partners and smoking, which increases a person's chance of developing HPV.

• Patients with invasive anal cancer experience a wide variety of symptoms, but at the earliest stage of cancer, patients often have no symptoms. The most common symptoms include:
• Pain or tenderness in the area around the anus, which can be constant or occur only with bowel movements or receptive sex
• Bleeding with bowel movements or following sex that is different from normal
• Lump or hard area on the outside of the anal area that appears to be increasing in size
• Itching or discharge from the anus
• Pain and/or a sense of fullness and constant need to go to the bathroom, which may occur as tumors grow and begin to invade the sphincter muscle

If you are at risk of anal cancer and/or are experiencing symptoms, it is important to contact your doctor and be examined promptly. If cancer is detected, an early diagnosis will help improve outcomes and smaller tumors can be treated more effectively with fewer side effects.

Article from :

http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/medical_services/cancer/

cr/conditions/anal/signs.html

Homosexuality and Anal Cancer

In June of 2004, the journal Nursing Clinics of North America reported the following regarding homosexuality and anal cancer:
“ One of the more pressing issues for gay men is anal carcinoma. Several recent studies have indicated the rate of anal dysplasia to be increasing in men with and without HIV. Ninety percent of men with HIV have the human papiloma virus (HPV), while 65% of men without HIV have HPV. HVP type 16 is the most troublesome for developing cancer and is found in a significant portion of gay men.
Another risk factor for developing anal cancer is the use of recreational drugs anally...Inserting "crystal meth" or ecstasy in the rectum can lead to higher rates of anal dylpasia.[1]
”

In 1997, Concerned Women of America reported the following regarding homosexuality and anal cancer:
“ Homosexual men's practice of anal sex has left many of them victims of anal cancer. One article in the New England Journal of Medicine commented, "Our study lends strong support to the hypothesis that homosexual behavior in men increases the risk of anal cancer: 21 of the 57 men with anal cancer (37 percent) reported that they were homosexual or bisexual, in contrast to only one of 64 controls." The Journal of the American Medical Association also published similar findings: "Epidemiological studies have shown that risk factors for anal cancer include homosexuality, history of receptive anal intercourse, presence of anal condylomata, and smoking." And the International Journal of Cancer stated, "Being single and having practiced anal intercourse appears to be associated with anal cancer and case reports have suggested a recent increase in the number of cases of anal cancer." Other studies have yielded the same conclusions.[2]

Article from:
http://www.conservapedia.com/Homosexuality_and_Anal_Cancer

The Dangers of Anal Cancer

Rectal cancer symptoms can start very innocently. Sometimes it starts out as itching around the anus, much like the itching one gets with hemorrhoids. Later, it becomes painful with bleeding. Eventually the lesion opens, with foul drainage. This is the point when most people feel it is time to see a doctor. Unfortunately by then it may be too late; anal cancer has taken hold and the person's life hangs in the balance.

Do Anal Paps Help Detect Anal Cancer Earlier?

This scenario is all too common in men infected with HIV. While the symptoms are subtle at first, eventually anal cancer can be a killer if not diagnosed and treated. Here are some important facts about anal cancer.

More article .............

Article from :
http://aids.about.com/od/otherconditions/a/analca.htm

Anal Cancer

Anal cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the anus.

The anus is the end of the large intestine, below the rectum, through which stool (solid waste) leaves the body. The anus is formed partly from the outer, skin layers of the body and partly from the intestine. Two ring-like muscles, called sphincter muscles, open and close the anal opening to let stool pass out of the body. The anal canal, the part of the anus between the rectum and the anal opening, is about 1½ inches long, more ..............

Article from:
http://www.medic8.com/cancer/anal-cancer.htm

Brain Tumor Symptoms

What are the symptoms of a brain tumor?
The following are the most common symptoms of a brain tumor. However, each person may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms vary depending on the size and location of tumor. Many symptoms are related to an increase in pressure in or around the brain. There is no spare space in the skull for anything except the delicate tissues of the brain and its fluid. Any tumor, extra tissue, or fluid can cause pressure on the brain and result in increased intracranial pressure (ICP), which may result from one or more of the ventricles that drain cerebral spinal fluid (CSF, the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord) becoming blocked and causing the fluid to be trapped in the brain. This increased ICP may cause the following:

• headache
• vomiting (usually in the morning)
• nausea
• personality changes
• irritability
• drowsiness
• depression
• decreased cardiac and respiratory function and, eventually, coma if not treated

Symptoms of brain tumors in the cerebrum (front of brain) may include:

• increased intracranial pressure (ICP)
• seizures
• visual changes
• slurred speech
• paralysis or weakness on half of the body or face
• drowsiness and/or confusion
• personality changes

Symptoms of brain tumors in the brainstem (middle of brain) may include:

• increased intracranial pressure (ICP)
• seizures
• endocrine problems (diabetes and/or hormone regulation)
• visual changes or double vision
• headaches
• paralysis of nerves/muscles of the face, or half of the body
• respiratory changes

Symptoms of brain tumors in the cerebellum (back of brain) may include:

• increased intracranial pressure (ICP)
• vomiting (usually occurs in the morning without nausea)
• headache
• uncoordinated muscle movements
• problems walking (ataxia)

The symptoms of a brain tumor may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.

Article from :

http://www.uabhealth.org/14041/

Brain Tumor Causes

What causes brain tumors?
The majority of brain tumors have abnormalities of genes involved in cell cycle control, causing uncontrolled cell growth. These abnormalities are caused by alterations directly in the genes, or by chromosome rearrangements which change the function of a gene.

Patients with certain genetic conditions (i.e., neurofibromatosis, von Hippel-Lindau disease, Li-Frameni syndrome, and retinoblastoma) also have an increased risk to develop tumors of the central nervous system. There have also been some reports of people in the same family developing brain tumors who do not have any of these genetic syndromes.

Research has been investigating parents of children with brain tumors and their past exposure to certain chemicals. Some chemicals may change the structure of a gene that protects the body from diseases and cancer. Workers in oil refining, rubber manufacturing, and chemists have a higher incidence of certain types of tumors. Which, if any, chemical toxin is related to this increase in tumors is unknown at this time.

Patients who have received radiation therapy to the head as part of prior treatment for other malignancies are also at an increased risk for new brain tumors.

Article From:
http://www.uabhealth.org/14040/