Cancer symptoms: Warning signs of anal cancer that can appear on the toilet

Cancer symptoms may not appear at all or can be vague, which can result in late diagnosis. However, the delay can severely impact possible treatment, which is why it is best to detect the disease as soon as possible.

Here are some common signs of anal cancer which can appear when you empty your bowels in the toilet. Though it may seem gross, being vigilant and noticing any changes can help you stop the condition as soon as possible.

Anal cancer occurs when cells in the anus begin to grow out of control. Most anal cancers start from the cells in mucosa – the inner lining of the anal canal that connects the rectum to the anus.

Due to the position of anal cancer tumors, some of the warning signs can appear in the toilet.

According to Cancer Research UK, the most common symptom of anal cancer is bleeding from the back passage. This type of bleeding may be noticeable in the form of blood in your poo, in the toilet bowl, or on the toilet paper.

If you have anal cancer, you may be excreting looser and runnier poos. You might also have difficulty controlling your bowel movements. This means you may experience sudden urges to poo that you can’t control or may even soil your pants without realizing you needed to go to the toilet. You may also notice discharge of mucus from the bottom

One of the key risk factors for anal cancer is human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually-transmitted infection. 90 percent of anal cancer cases are linked to HPV infection. However, the HPV virus may not always lead to anal cancer.

Other risk factors include having cervical, vulvar, or vaginal cancer. Quitting smoking could help reduce your risk of developing anal cancer.

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If you experience any of the above mentioned symptoms, you must get them checked by your doctor. Catching cancer early can help improve the outcomes. It is also important to note that some of the symptoms associated with anal cancer may not be from cancer, rather caused by other benign conditions such as hemorrhoids.

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Following are some tips by Penn Medicine to prevent anal cancer:

• Avoid unprotected anal intercourse.
  
  
• Quit smoking or chewing tobacco to decrease the risk of developing cancer.
  
  
• Use condoms to prevent HIV or HPV infection.