What Is Anal Cancer?
6. Is There a Difference Between Anal, Rectal, and Colon Cancer?
While there are several similar symptoms for anal, rectal, and colon cancer, these are three different conditions that affect different parts of the body. Anal cancer is located in the anus, colon cancer can form in any part of the 5-foot-long colon and rectal cancer forms in the rectum. Rectal and colon cancers are often referred to as colorectal cancer.
Anal cancer is far less common than rectal or colon cancer and is most often caused by HPV, as opposed to the sporadic mutations of cell DNA. While a poor immune system and sexual activity are risk factors for anal cancer, an unhealthy lifestyle, such a not exercising, smoking, eating a lot of red meat, and being obese, is often linked to colorectal cancers.
