Anal Cancer Risk Factors & Prevention
Prevention
Prevention of Anal cancer can be categorized according to behavioural, non-behavioural interventions and screening.
Behavioural interventions
- Safer sex practices (i.e., condom use): Consistent condom use reduces HPV transmission, lowering anal cancer risk, especially in high-risk individuals.
- Smoking cessation: Quitting smoking reduces exposure to carcinogens, improving immune health and decreasing cancer risk.
- Diet modification: A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and fiber lowers cancer risk by boosting immune health and reducing inflammation.
Non-Behavioral Interventions
- Male circumcision: Reduces HPV infection risk and, consequently, HPV-related cancers like anal cancer.
- HPV vaccination: Protects against high-risk HPV strains (e.g., HPV-16 and HPV-18), significantly reducing anal cancer risk (Medford, R. J., & Salit, I. E. (2015).
Literature
1. Medford, R. J., & Salit, I. E. (2015). Anal cancer and intraepithelial neoplasia: Epidemiology, screening and prevention of a sexually transmitted disease. CMAJ, 187(2), 111–115. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.140476