anal cancer proved rife in gay men

By Mongezi Mhlongo (BTM Reporter)

AFRICA ABROAD – November 26, 2008: Anal cancer is reported to take toll among the increasing onslaught of other known cancers, and according to experts it is a distinct entity from the more common colorectal cancer.

Research shows that anal cancer affects both men and women, particularly homosexual men who are 17 times more likely to develop anal cancer than men who do not have sex with men.

Getting infected with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) – a common sexually transmitted infection – is one of the contributing factors to anal cancer according to Martha Molete, spokesperson of the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA).

Other contributing factors are smoking, immunosupression, having multiple sex partners or having anal sex, due to the increased risk of exposure to the HPV virus.

Molete warns that homosexual men are at higher risk of contracting anal and colorectal cancers mainly if they engage in unprotected sex.

“Gay men who engage in unprotected penetrative anal sex have a higher risk due to the infection risk”, she explains.

Molete stated that HPV can also be transmitted through touching of private parts, also advising that condoms can reduce the risk but will not necessarily completely prevent HPV transmission.

“Being HIV positive or having other STIs also increases the risks of anal cancer”, she advised.

According to the Medical Research Council (MRC) in Cambridge, UK, the rate of anal cancer infection is estimated at 37 out of 100 000 gay men and about double if they are also HIV-positive. 

In the South African context, CANSA has hinted that anal cancer counts at 64 in prevalence among males.

A study conducted by CANSA in 1999 showed 55 cases of anal cancer diagnosis in men and 74 in women generally.

CANSA also states that anal cancer and colorectal cancers are intertwined because of the similarities in symptoms and the risk factors.  

Colorectal cancer is a cancerous growth that develops on the inside wall of the colon or large bowel, often referred to as bowel or colon cancer

CANSA says that 1out of 83 South African men is at risk of getting colorectal cancer while the rate for women is 1 in 131.

Martha sys that screening and diagnostic procedures can determine if cancer may be present.

“Surgery is the main form of treatment, and is either combined with chemotherapy or radiation. The earlier the detection, the better are your chances of a full recovery”, she said.  

Earlier this month MRC discovered a new and improved technique to detect anal cancer in its early stages by using minichromosome maintenance proteins (MCMs).

MCMs enable scientists detect pre-cancerous and cancerous cells in the anus.

This breakthrough is expected to benefit gay men who are at much greater risks of contracting anal cancer.

The Word Health Organisation stated that Africa will account for more than a million new various cancer cases per year out of a total of 16 million cases worldwide by 2020.