According to various press reports, Farrah Fawcett, the former "Charlie's Angels" star, has been hospitalized for complications related to her ongoing treatment for anal cancer. Her public battle with anal cancer and commensurate media coverage of the actress provide an opportunity to educate the public about this relatively rare cancer. Because of its anatomical location and its risk factors, many people are uncomfortable talking about anal cancer.

Farrah Fawcett has been fighting anal cancer since 2006 and the cancer has apparently spread to her liver. However, contrary to initial news reports, she is not terminally ill at this time and is expected to be discharged in a few days.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) estimates that there were 5,070 new cases of anal cancer in the United States in 2008 with 680 deaths. According to the NCI, the main risk factors for developing anal cancer are:

• Being over 50 years old.
• Being infected with human papillomavirus (HPV).
• Having many sexual partners.
• Having receptive anal intercourse (anal sex).
• Frequent anal redness, swelling, and soreness.
• Having anal fistulas (abnormal openings).
• Smoking cigarettes.

Possible signs and symptoms of anal cancer include:

• Bleeding from the anus or rectum.
• Pain or pressure in the area around the anus.
• Itching or discharge from the anus.
• A lump near the anus.
• A change in bowel habits.

Other diseases can cause similar signs and symptoms but you should contact your doctor if you experience these problems. The odds of survival from anal cancer depend mainly on the stage of the cancer at the time of diagnosis. Anal cancer is treated with radiation therapy using radiation to kill cancer cells, chemotherapy using drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, and/or surgery to remove cancerous tissue.

For more information, read the NCI’s summary on anal cancer, ask a question about anal cancer or join the anal cancer support group on Healia Communities. Additional cancer summaries from NCI are also available on Healia.


_{Photo: Hamed Masoumi, Flickr, Creative Commons}