Dramatic increase in anal cancer cases and deaths

A new study shows the number of people in the U.S. with anal cancer has tripled since the 1970s. Researchers reviewed a collection of data on the most common type of anal cancer cases in the U.S. from 1973 to 2009, and were surprised by the dramatic increase in cases. Although both sexes saw an increase in anal cancer, the rate for men jumped most dramatically – from one in every 100,000 men to three in every 100,000. Researchers suggest that an increase in detection among high-risk groups, such as those with HIV or human papillomavirus (HPV), may account for the rise in anal cancer.

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