My name is Ana. I am writing to you because I am very, very worried. I have had pain when defecating and intermittent light bleeding for several years (about four). It comes and goes, but it's normally persistent. Now they'll do a colonoscopy and tell me what it might be due to. After reading your testimonials I was a little scared. I was diagnosed with vaginal HPV five years ago, but it did not cause harm. It disappeared by itself and since then I have tested negative. Is it possible that HPV type 18 caused cancer or pre-cancer in my anus? HPV and anal cancer is not knowledged as linked in Spain, so doctors do not even think about it. Every time I have mentioned it to a colorectal doctor, he has told me that it has nothing to be with it, but then I read online and I realize that it actually has many things to be with it. And my type of HPV is a high risk, so... it makes it even worst! Please, could you maybe eliminate me with some information? I'm so tired of Doctor google and it does not help at all, but I do not want to miss some important risk.
Hi Ana91 and welcome. It is my understanding and is accepted by the medical profession in the UK that there is a link between cervical and anal cancer and HPV. When you have your colonoscopy I would mention this. There is another procedure called an anoscopy that is where a probe is inserted into your anus to check for problems. You’re right that HPV 18 is one of the strains of HPV that can cause cancer although of course this does not necessarily mean that it will cause cancer. If your colonoscopy shows no problems Could you ask to be referred to a specialist that deals with anal cancer? I’m sure they would have a greater understanding of the HPV virus. It is of course good that you are having a colonoscopy too in order to check your colon for problems. Have you had a digital rectal examination at all? This is a finger inserted into the anus. Not pleasant but the doctor can tell if there are any lumps and bumps in the anus that shouldn’t be there. This must all be very worrying for you but you are doing the right thing in asking questions and getting things sorted out. Hopefully it will all turn out to be something non-cancer related as there are many conditions that can cause the symptoms you have but you are right to get this checked out. Bev.
Hi, I thought colonoscopy is the right way to see if there is anything abnormal, right? What is the difference between rectal cancer and anal cancer? They are different? There are no anal cancer specialists in my country, at least not that I know of. My digestive doctor and colorectal surgeon have told me that cancer from hpv is the least likely considering that I am 29 years old. What do you think about it? The bleeding is slight, when cleaning and sometimes a little in the toilet, but little. It doesn't always just happen sometimes and it always hurts to defecate. Thanks!
Hi Ana91yes anal and rectal cancer are different. The anus is the lowest part of the digestive tract, it’s about 7 centimetres in length. Immediately following the anus (further in), is the rectum, the next part of the digestive tract is the colon. I would ask when you have your colonoscopy if they will be checking the anus and rectum as part of your examination. Whilst a colonoscopy will check your colon for abnormalities I am not sure it will pick up on any abnormalities in the anus. I would just check this with your doctor. Whilst it would be fairly unusual for someone under 30 to develop anal cancer it is possible. I hope in your your case it turns out to be one of the many other non-cancerous conditions. Bev.
Just to confirm my first examination was a colonoscopy which did not show anything of concern but the doctor then asked to do a finger internal examination- she could then feel my tumour. Obviously needed confirmation but the outcome was anal cancer diagnosis after MRI and CT scan. And yes rectal cancer is different from anal cancer. Hope they discover what is causing the problem for you soon so it can then be treated and gotten rid of! Good luck
Hello, thanks for your answer and sorry for your case. I Hope you can get better soon. I have spoken with the cancer comunty in Spain and they have told me that that type of anal cáncer is very rare and because of my age (29) and because I have had hpv 18 and It did not cause any harm on my cervix in all this years... the most normal thing It can be is un internal hemorroides. Doctors have done that finger test on me and they only found some kind of trombosed hemmorroids but they wanted to do the colonoscopy to confirm. I'm trying to do all as my doctors have told me. I even have and appointment with a diferent doctor yo express him my concierne about It. Just in case he has to do other differents test. But the cancer foundation have told me that colonoscopy with biopsy is enough because theh are going to examinate all that area. Thanks a lot for your support. I think I'm doing my best with this .I really hope it's not cancer...
Initially but then I had a significant rectal bleed. My main symptom was more urgent and loose bowel movement. Let’s hope they discover what’s causing your problem and it’s nothing major!
