Since we cannot explain what exactly causes anal cancer, total prevention can be difficult. The best defense we have against developing the disease is to avoid the known risk factors. Tips to help reduce your risk of anal cancer include:
Using a condom during intercourse. Wearing a condom may provide protection against HPV. Although condoms do not provide 100% protection against HPV, you are much safer wearing one than not.
Limiting the amount of sexual partners you have. When a person has multiple sexual partners, they are at an increased risk for HPV, which is linked to anal cancer.
Avoiding anal intercourse. Anal intercourse increases the risk factor for anal cancer for both men and women.
Quitting smoking. According to the American Cancer Society, smokers are 4 times more likely to develop anal cancer than nonsmokers. Smoking also puts you at a higher risk for many other types of cancer.
The HPV vaccine is expected to reduce cases of anal cancer, but there are no studies that confirm this yet. Gardasil, the current FDA-approved vaccine, is available to young women ages 9 to 26. It provides protection against two strains of HPV known to cause cervical cancer in women and two strains that cause genital warts also. Because these strains of HPV may be related to the development of anal cancer, the vaccine may provide protection. More research is being done to study the vaccine's efficacy in men.
source : cancer.about.com
Using a condom during intercourse. Wearing a condom may provide protection against HPV. Although condoms do not provide 100% protection against HPV, you are much safer wearing one than not.
Limiting the amount of sexual partners you have. When a person has multiple sexual partners, they are at an increased risk for HPV, which is linked to anal cancer.
Avoiding anal intercourse. Anal intercourse increases the risk factor for anal cancer for both men and women.
Quitting smoking. According to the American Cancer Society, smokers are 4 times more likely to develop anal cancer than nonsmokers. Smoking also puts you at a higher risk for many other types of cancer.
The HPV vaccine is expected to reduce cases of anal cancer, but there are no studies that confirm this yet. Gardasil, the current FDA-approved vaccine, is available to young women ages 9 to 26. It provides protection against two strains of HPV known to cause cervical cancer in women and two strains that cause genital warts also. Because these strains of HPV may be related to the development of anal cancer, the vaccine may provide protection. More research is being done to study the vaccine's efficacy in men.
source : cancer.about.com
