I have HPV. Now what?
We all hope the awkwardness is over after we get our Pap and HPV tests. So hearing that you have tested positive for HPV can be a blow. What happens next?
Well, for one, you’re not alone.
“More than 80% of people will be infected at some point in their lifetime,” says gynecologic oncologist Lois Ramondetta, M.D.
The good news is that, in most cases, your immune system clears the virus before any health problems...
14 common anal cancer questions
Anal cancer can be hard to talk about. And, even when it is talked about, anal cancer is often mistaken for — or lumped together with...
3 myths about anal cancer, debunked
Anal cancer is a fairly rare type of cancer that develops in the anus and anal canal. About 8,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with anal...
Anal cancer vs. colorectal cancer: What’s the difference?
Anal cancer and colorectal cancer both develop in the lower gastrointestinal tract, but these types of cancer differ in many ways.
We spoke with gastrointestinal radiation oncologist Emma Holliday, M.D., to learn more about the differences between anal cancer and colorectal cancer.
What parts of the lower digestive system do anal cancer and colorectal cancer affect?Anal cancer affects the anal canal and...
Colonoscopy anesthesia: 7 things to know
If you’ve never had a colonoscopy before, you might have some questions about anesthesia.
Is there more than one option, for...
What happens if a doctor finds cancer during my colonoscopy?
Most colonoscopies end with a gastroenterologist saying to come back in 10 years for another colorectal cancer screening, a woozy ride home...
Squamous cell carcinomas: 8 things to know about the ‘cancer of the surfaces’
Much like adenocarcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas can develop in many locations, including the skin, lungs and cervix.
Unlike...
My anal cancer treatment: How I learned to laugh through the pain
In 2013, I noticed blood in my stool, which I thought was related to hemorrhoids. I also noticed heartburn on occasion. But it took five years...
Chemotherapy side effect: hand-foot syndrome (palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia)
Hand-foot syndrome (also called palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia) is a side effect of some chemotherapy drugs that can cause redness, swelling...
Why I donate blood for cancer patients to honor my late wife
I’ve been a regular blood donor since 1981. But it wasn’t until my wife, Kelly, was diagnosed with stage IV anal cancer in 2014 that blood...