Everyone Healthy Library
Anal Cancer
Condition / disease reference page from the Everyone Healthy database.
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Connected health information
Explore this condition in a clear order
Condition overview
Attributes
Commonalityis rare
Linked signs and symptoms
7Each sign/symptom opens its own page and links back to related conditions.
Linked drugs / medications
1Medication information is educational only. A doctor or pharmacist should advise whether any medicine is appropriate.
Treatments, therapies and supportive options
14Grouped by treatment type. These are educational database links, not personal treatment recommendations. Evidence labels are shown only where stored in the EH database.
Surgery
2Medical therapy
4Alternative and complementary therapies
2Alternative medicine
2Vitamins and minerals
1Vitamins
1Linked diagnostic tests and investigations
28These are pulled from both EH diagnostic-test link tables, including the older large test-link table.
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) Concentration
- Antithrombin 111 (AT-111) Activity Test
- Blood Uric Acid Concentration Test
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Glucose Concentration
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Protein Concentration
- Cerebrospinal Fluid White Cell Differential
- D-Dimer Blood Test
- Eosinophils Count
- erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
- Fecal Occult Blood Test
- Fibrin Degradation Products (FDPs, Fibrin Split Products, FSPs, Fibrin Breakdown Products, Fbps)
- Fibrin Monomers Test
- Fibrinopeptide A (FPA) Action Assay
- Folic Acid (Folate) Concentration
- haptoglobin (Hp) concentration
- Iron Concentration
- Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Concentration
- Neutrophil Absolute Count
- Platelet Count
- Potassium Concentration (K, Blood)
- Protein Electrophoresis (Blood, Serum Protein)
- Thyroid Stimulating Horomone (TSH) Concentration
- Thyroxine (Total T4) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine (Free T3) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine (Total T3) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine Uptake Test
- Vitamin B12 (VB12) Concentration
- White Blood Cell (WBC) Count
Biological markers/agents
29This visual map shows biological markers/agents reported as increased or decreased with this condition. These are educational relationships only; test results must be interpreted by a qualified clinician because ranges vary by lab, method, age, sex and clinical context.
Often increased
19- Alpha-1 Antintrypsin (AAT)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 90–215 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsAlpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) Concentration
- Cerebrospinal Fluid LeukocytesReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0–5 /µL; 1y - 6y: 0–20 /µLLinked diagnostic testsCerebrospinal Fluid White Cell Differential
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Neutrophil DifferentialReference range exampleAll: 0–5 %Linked diagnostic testsCerebrospinal Fluid White Cell Differential
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Total ProteinReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 15–45 mg/dL; Child (< 10y): 15–70 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsCerebrospinal Fluid Protein Concentration
- D-DimerReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0–240 µg/LLinked diagnostic testsD-Dimer Blood Test
- EosinophilsReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0–3 %; 0–3 %Linked diagnostic testsDifferential White Blood Cell Count Tests, Eosinophil Differential Of Total WBC
- Erythrocyte Sedimentation RateReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 0–20 mm/Hr; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 0–15 mm/HrLinked diagnostic testserythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
- Fecal BloodReference range exampleAll: 0–2 mLLinked diagnostic testsFecal Occult Blood Test
- Fibrin MonomersReference range example0–10,000 µg/LLinked diagnostic testsFibrin Monomers Test
- Fibrin Split ProductsReference range exampleAll: 0–1 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsFibrin Degradation Products (FDPs, Fibrin Split Products
- Fibrinopeptide A (FPA)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 0.7–3.1 mg/mL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 0.35–2.5 mg/mLLinked diagnostic testsFibrinopeptide A (FPA) Action Assay
- Gamma Globulin (Blood, Serum)Reference range exampleAll: 0.8–1.7 gm/dLLinked diagnostic testsProtein Electrophoresis (Blood, Serum Protein)
- haptoglobin (Hp)Reference range example45–200 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testshaptoglobin (Hp) concentration
- PlateletsReference range exampleChild (0 - 16y): 150–450 109/L; Adult ( > 16y): 135–380 109/LLinked diagnostic testsPlatelet Count
- Segmented NeutrophilsReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 50–62 %; Adult ( > 16y): 2,500–8,000 mm3Linked diagnostic testsDifferential White Blood Cell Count Tests, Neutrophil Absolute Count
- Thyroid Stimulating Horomone (TSH)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0.021–0.11 µg/dL; Newborn (0 - 1month): 0.04–0.19 µg/dLLinked diagnostic testsThyroid Stimulating Horomone (TSH) Concentration, Urine B2 Microglobulin Concentration
- Triiodothyronine Uptake PercentageReference range exampleAll: 25–38 %Linked diagnostic testsTriiodothyronine Uptake Test
- Uric Acid, BloodReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 2.5–7 mg/dL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 4–8 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsBlood Uric Acid Concentration Test
- White Blood Cell (WBC)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 4.5–10.5 million/mL; Adult ( > 16y): 3.2–10 million/mLLinked diagnostic testsWhite Blood Cell (WBC) Count
Often decreased
10- Antithrombin 111 (AT-111)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 90–110 %Linked diagnostic testsAntithrombin 111 (AT-111) Activity Test
- Folic Acid (Folate)Reference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 14–51 ng/mL; Child (0 - 16y): 5–21 ng/mLLinked diagnostic testsFolic Acid (Folate) Concentration
- Glucose (Cerebrospinal Fluid)Reference range exampleChild (0 - 16y): 65–85 mg/dL; Adult ( > 16y): 50–72 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsCerebrospinal Fluid Glucose Concentration
- IronReference range exampleChild (0 - 16y): 50–120 µg/dL; Adult ( > 16y), Female: 50–150 µg/dLLinked diagnostic testsIron Concentration, Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC)
- Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0–125 mg/dL; 6y - 16y: 0–100 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsLow Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Concentration
- Potassium (K, Blood)AbbreviationKReference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 4.1–5.3 mEq/L; Child (0 - 16y): 3.4–4.7 mEq/LLinked diagnostic testsPotassium Concentration (K, Blood)
- Thyroxine (Total T4)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 6–12 µg/dL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 5–12 µg/dLLinked diagnostic testsThyroxine (Total T4) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine (Free T3)Reference range example2.7–4.9 pg/mLLinked diagnostic testsTriiodothyronine (Free T3) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine (Total T3)Reference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 1.1–2.43 ng/mL; Adult ( > 16y): 1–2.1 ng/mLLinked diagnostic testsTriiodothyronine (Total T3) Concentration
- Vitamin B12 (VB12)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 130–670 pmol/LLinked diagnostic testsVitamin B12 (VB12) Concentration
Introduction / full article
Anal Cancer
Anal Cancer
Anal cancer is cancer of the skin cells surrounding the anus, or along the lining of the passage connecting the anus and the rectum (the anal canal).
Causes
Although the exact cause of anal cancer is unknown, a number of risk factors have been identified, and include:
· Smoking;
· Certain sexually-transmitted diseases, primarily the human papillomavirus (HPV);
· Engaging in anal intercourse; and
· Having multiple sexual partners.
Symptoms and diagnosis
In approximately 25 per cent of cases, people with anal cancer will have no symptoms.
Others, however, may experience:
· Bloating;
· Pain and bleeding with bowel movements;
· Itching around the anus; and
· Lower back pain.
To detect anal cancer, a doctor will inspect and physically probe the skin around the anus, and the anal canal. If there is any part of the lining that appears to be different to its surroundings, the doctor then takes a sample of the tissue and inspects it for cancer under a microscope.
Treatment
A combination of radiation, chemotherapy and surgery is often sufficient to treat anal cancer, with 70 per cent of patients surviving upward of five years.
Continued monitoring and further treatment may be required if the cancer is recurrent.
Efficacy of Alternative and Other Treatments According to GRADE* Ranking:
Venus Flytrap Extract (Carnivora, Dionaea Muscipula) [1, 8, 9, 10]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: weakly in favor (Early laboratory studies show that Venus Flytrap Extract may have some effect against anal cancer in animals. However more research is needed in humans.)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
Turmeric [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Early laboratory studies show that turmeric may be of benefit in the treatment of cancer. However, clinical trials on humans are needed)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
Vitamin C [18]:
Recomendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that vitamin C is able to treat anal cancer)
Grade of Evidence: Very low quality of evidence
* www.gradeworkinggroup.org
Summary References
Treatments:
1. Ades T, Alteri R, Gansler T, Yeargin P, "Complete Guide to Complimentary & Alternative Cancer Therapies", American Cancer Society, Atlanta USA, 2009
2. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/turmeric
3. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-turmeric.html
4. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/turmeric/index.htm
5. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1668932.stm
6. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/10/28/curry-kills-cancer-cells-and-other-health-benefits-of-the-nations-favourite-dish-115875-21779950/
7. http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=turmeric
8. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/venus-flytrap
9. Parimala, R. & P. Sachdanandam 1993. Effect of plumbagin on some glucose metabolizing enzymes studied in rats in experimental hepatoma. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 12(1): 59–63.
10. http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/318/2/484
11. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/anal/patient/allpages/print#Section_1
12. http://web.archive.org/web/20080227144331/http://dceg.cancer.gov/pdfs/frisch83892000.pdf
13. http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/AnalCancer/OverviewGuide/index.htm
14. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/analcancer.html
15. http://www.cancer.net/patient/Cancer+Types/Anal+Cancer
16. http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/anal-cancer/DS00852/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
17. http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/299/16/1980.pdf
18. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4388666/