For women who have survived cervical cancer, there may be a hidden health risk they haven’t considered: anal cancer.
New research from MUSC Hollings Cancer Center reveals that these women face nearly double the risk of developing anal cancer compared to the general population.
Cervical cancer is largely preventable and highly treatable when detected early, with survival rates over 90%. But current medical guidelines don’t address long-term cancer risks, particularly for anal cancer, which is also caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Researchers analyzed data from more than 85,000 cervical cancer patients using the National Cancer Institute’s SEER database, which tracks cancer diagnoses across the U.S. They followed these women over two decades and found that those with a history of cervical cancer had almost twice the risk of developing anal cancer.
The risk of anal cancer increased with age. The highest rate of new diagnoses occurred in women aged 65 to 74 who were more than 15 years past their cervical cancer diagnosis. For this age group, anal cancer rates surpassed the level at which routine screening is normally recommended.
Both cervical and anal cancers are caused by HPV, a slow-developing virus that can remain in the body for years. Because it takes so long for symptoms to appear, the cancer may go undetected until it has progressed.
Currently, anal cancer screening is only recommended for certain high-risk groups, like people with HIV or organ transplants. There are no official screening guidelines for women with a history of cervical cancer. However, this study suggests that they should be considered a high-risk group.
While screening methods such as anal cytology and anoscopy do exist, access to these services is limited. The researchers hope their findings will inform future screening policies.
The researchers emphasize that this is not about causing alarm but about empowering women and their doctors with information. They’ve already survived one cancer, and with the right knowledge and tools, another one could be prevented.
The study is published in JAMA Network Open.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
