While the other thread was being locked, I was trying to post this:
Huh. She has anal cancer, not rectal. I wasn't sure about the difference, but healthtalk.com says:
Huh. She has anal cancer, not rectal. I wasn't sure about the difference, but healthtalk.com says:
Anal cancer is a rare type of cancer that arises from the lining of the anus. The anus is lined by skin cells and, as a result, most of the anal cancers are squamous. (The word "squamous" refers to cells that are thin and flat, most often skin cells.) On the other hand, the rectum is internal and is the lower part of the colon that connects the colon to anus. As rectal cancer arises from the mucosa or lining, it is typically an adenocarcinoma (in other words, cancer of glandular tissue).
There is an association between HPV and anal cancer, as HPV is found in some of the cases. The risk of HPV infection increases with increased sexual activity. There is also an association between anal cancer and HIV infection, as well as being a smoker.
