Rectal cancer in gay men

In recent years, increased awareness and targeted health messaging have begun to address colorectal cancer risks in the gay community.

This makes anal cancer one of the most common cancers affecting gay men. This is very similar to how cervical cancer is prevented. Knowing about these cancers and what you can do to help lower your risk or find them early (when the cancer is small and might be easier to treat) may help save your life.

HPV vaccination can prevent anal cancer. Men who have sex with men are at higher risk for anal and oral cancers. The main risk factor for it is having anal sex with men. March 21 is Anal Cancer Awareness Day. It is a perfect time to increase understanding about anal cancer and its impact on those affected by the disease — particularly gay men — and to encourage people to talk openly about this often-stigmatized topic.

Knowing about these cancers and what you can do to help lower your risk or find them early (when the cancer is rectal cancer in gay men and might be easier to treat) may help save your life. However, there are no national guidelines about who should be screened, when they should be screened, and at what frequency. Men who have sex with men are at higher risk for anal and oral cancers. This is regardless of sexual orientation.

Some gay and bisexual men might have a higher risk of anal cancer. The odds of a gay man developing anal cancer are about 20 to 80 times higher than for a heterosexual man. But there is good news. Some gay and bisexual men might have a higher risk of anal cancer. Learn about screenings and ways to reduce these risks with HPV and hepatitis B vaccinations. In fact, Temple Health gives tours of the inside of a giant inflatable colon to raise awareness about that disease.

Again, not a topic that frequently comes up in conversation. Gay men, particularly those in the LGBTQ+ community, may face specific risks for colorectal cancer due to factors such as higher rates of tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and poor diet. The risk of anal cancer is even greater if you've been infected with high-risk types of HPV (human papillomavirus). There are a few reasons for the lack of public awareness of anal cancer.

The current HPV vaccine is approved for everyone between the ages of 9 and But there is no reason why sexually active adults cannot get vaccinated. The risk is also higher if you: Anyone can get skin cancer. Another, more flagrant reason might be because the primary cause of anal cancer is a sexually transmitted infection. Learn more here.

Male colorectal cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the United States. Anal cancer is much more likely in gay and bisexual men. BOSTON-Benign anorectal disease should be treated as a possible marker for precancerous anal lesions in men who have sex with men, Stephen E. Goldstone, MD, said at the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons annual meeting.

Learn about screenings and ways to reduce these risks with HPV and hepatitis B vaccinations. But unlike cervical cancer, which has been decreasing in the U. Gay men and other men who have sex with men are bearing the disproportionate burden of this disease. You are at a higher risk, though, if you have: Fair skin. HPV causes other cancers as well, with cervical cancer being the best known.

The other good news is that there are ways to screen for anal cancer. The odds of a gay man developing anal cancer are about 20 to 80 times higher than for a heterosexual man. This makes anal cancer one of the most common cancers affecting gay men. For one, it is relatively rare in the general population, affecting about 2 out ofpeople. The stigma surrounding anal sex and the lack of awareness about anal cancer have contributed to the neglect of this issue.

Community-based outreach, education campaigns, and accessible healthcare services are vital in promoting early detection and healthy lifestyle choices. The risk of anal cancer is even higher among people living with HIV. This is all because of HPV. Having receptive anal sex increases your risk of an anal HPV infection. It is time to change that. A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine clearly demonstrated that it is possible to diagnose and treat abnormal cells in the anal canal before they can develop into cancer.