None of the men in our study have developed invasive anal cancer. Some had severe dysplasia with pre-cancerous cells on biopsy, which can lead to cancer if not treated. The use of acids to burn warts or liquid nitrogen to freeze them has been used, but effectiveness has not been evaluated. Several drugs are being developed, and vaccines for HPV are starting to be evaluated in limited studies in the U.S. New chemotherapy treatments are being developed to treat anal cancer. The goal is to develop a better screening test than the pap smear, and begin screening programs to find those at risk for anal cancer.
Early detection is important.
The earlier you find a cancer like prostate, testicular, or anal cancer, the less likely it is to invade other parts of the body. Men over the age of 40 should have their prostate examined annually, and men over the age of 20 should be doing testicular self-exams monthly. As with anal cancer, a person with any signs of problems or history of warts, STDs, or abnormal internal or external bumps should be screened by their provider. I tell my patients that it is their responsibility to get a complete physical exam with their healthcare provider, and they should not wait for problems to begin. Most primary care providers can do an anal exam.