By Muhammadu Sabiu
Dr. Nwamaka Lasebikan, consultant radiation and clinical oncologist at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu, has warned Nigerians against having anal intercourse because doing so increases their risk of developing anal cancer.
Nwamaka further cautioned that, even if it’s between the two opposite sexes, it increases a person’s risk of contracting deadly cancer.
She said that the majority of anal malignancies are linked to a human papillomavirus infection and added that people with more sexual partners are more likely to contract the virus.
Because it mostly develops in the anal canal, anal cancer is a rare form of cancer, according to specialists.
According to the National Cancer Institute, anal cancer is a disease in which cancer cells grow in the tissues of the anus.
In addition, Nwamaka, who is also the director of oncology at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), noted in an interview that additional factors may increase a person’s risk of developing anal cancer.
The oncologist said, “HPV is a risk factor for anal cancer and the transmission rate is higher in people with multiple sexual partners.
“There are other risk factors for anal cancer such as men having sex with men, having a disease that causes a weakened immune system, e.g., human immunodeficiency virus, having many sexual partners, and having receptive anal sex.”
According to the expert, men are at a higher risk of developing anal cancer from anal sex because gay and bisexual men often engage in anal intercourse.
“Although the occurrence is not common, with the increasing number of men having sex with men, the trend may start to increase,” she lamented.
Nwamaka said when an individual has anal cancer, “They would experience symptoms such as pain in the area around the anus, anal discharge, a change in bowel habits, bleeding and or discharge from the anus or rectum, etc.
When asked about the treatment methods for anal cancer, the oncologist said surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are the treatment options.
Your reaction