Anal cancer is an uncommon malignancy that starts in the anus -- the opening at the end of the rectum.
The American Cancer Society estimates that just 6,230 new cases of anal cancer are expected to occur in 2012 in the U.S. with just 780 expected deaths.
By way of contrast, more than 40,290 new cases of rectal cancer are projected for 2012.
Approximately half of all anal cancers are diagnosed before the malignancy has spread beyond the primary site, whereas 13% to 25% are diagnosed after the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, and 10% are diagnosed after the cancer has spread to distant organs, that is metastasized.
When it is found early, anal cancer is highly treatable.
The overall five-year survival rate following diagnosis of anal cancer is 60% for men and 71% for women.
When the cancer is diagnosed in its earliest stage, five-year survival rate is 82%. Once the cancer has spread to surrounding lymph nodes, the five-year survival drops to 60%. If the cancer has spread to distant organs, about one in five patients lives for five years or more.
