What Causes Anal Cancer?

A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chance of getting a disease. Although the exact cause of anal cancer is not known, most anal cancers seem to be linked to infection with HPV (human papilloma virus). Still, most people with HPV infections do not get anal cancer. The risk factors for anal cancer are listed below. But having a risk factor, or even several, does not mean that you will get the disease.

Risk Factors for Anal Cancer

HPV (human papilloma virus)

Most doctors think that squamous cell anal cancer is caused by a type of this virus called HPV-16. The virus spreads during sex. It is more likely to be found in people who have had many sex partners. One sign of infection with this virus is genital warts, but most people infected with HPV do not have genital warts.

Sex

Having many sex partners is a risk factor for women. Having anal sex is a risk factor for both men and women, especially under the age of 30.......

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Title: Anal Cancer
Approximate Word Count: 286
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