Improved
6112 HealthChanged
3786 LivesSaved
3568 Lives0 lives impacted in the last 24 hrs Learn More
Michelle King Robson and Dr. John Garvie discuss the cause of anal cancer.
Dr. John Garvie:
There’s one other the thing that I wanted to point out to you is that the cause of anal cancers has been identified.
Michelle King Robson:
What is the cause? I was going to read, one of my next questions.
Dr. John Garvie:
Right, and the cause is actually human papilloma virus infection.
Michelle King Robson:
That’s what I have heard that it was HPV and I thought. . .
Dr. John Garvie:
It’s HPV.
Michelle King Robson:
I was stunned to hear that.
Dr. John Garvie:
Yeah, again I think that that,s would be a surprise to most people to know that it’s HPV infection which is felt to be the root of anal cancers. So whereas we still don’t know the cause of garden variety colorectal cancer we don’t know what provokes the polyp. We do know what provokes the lesion in anal cancers and that’s a chronic HPV infection.
Michelle King Robson:
Wow, and so that has to be from, I hate to say it, but from having anal sex, I would imagine.
Dr. John Garvie:
In almost all cases that would be the presumption, that would be the correct presumption.
Michelle King Robson:
Wow, that’s pretty amazing and that’s, I mean I just don’t think people are aware of that.
Dr. John Garvie:
No, they are not. I think that this is not in the level of awareness of hardly anyone, except within the field.
Watch Michelle's Story About Her Colonoscopy Experience
https://www.empowher.com/community/herstory/video-herstory-michelle-shares-her-colonoscopy-journey