Man Using His Diagnosis to Encourage Others to Keep Up With Regular Health Checks, Confront Stigma
- A 57-year-old man who found it painful to sit down learned he had a lump on his butt. Admittedly, he was too embarrassed to ask his long-time wife to observe his butt to ensure a lump was present.
- The man was diagnosed with early-stage anal cancer, which occurs when a genetic mutation turns normal healthy cells into abnormal cells in the anal canal. It’s a rare type of cancer, and according to the National Institutes of Health, there is a “clear correlation” between anal cancer and the human papillomavirus (HPV).
- HPV, an extremely common sexually transmitted infection, is believed to cause most anal cancer. Thankfully, there is an effective vaccine approved for kids to protect against HPV and help prevent related cancers.
A married man, 57, says he was too embarrassed to have his wife of 38 years take a close look at his butt after experiencing quite a bit of anal discomfort. It turns out that Kev Waddle had a lump on his bum that was slightly larger than a nickel and required immediate medical attention.
“I’ve been married for 38 years, and I was embarrassed to tell my wife about it,” Kev Waddle told digital news outlet LadBible.
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The couple knew they needed to see a doctor when the lump started emitting a smell and leak discharge. CT scans and a biopsy confirmed Waddle had early-stage anal cancer.
Anal cancer occurs when a genetic mutation turns normal healthy cells into abnormal cells in the anal canal. It’s a rare type of cancer, and according to the National Institutes of Health, there is a “clear correlation” between anal cancer and the human papillomavirus (HPV).
“When they said it was treatable, we were quite relieved, and they said it hadn’t spread either,” Waddle said.
Waddle chose to share his story, which he once felt too embarrassed to openly discuss because he wants other men to check themselves out when things don’t feel right, even if they may find it personally uncomfortable to talk about.
“Men do keep things private, and I think some see it as a sign of weakness if they need to go to the GP (doctor)…if you have any problems, just go and get it checked out,” Waddle said.
Expert Anal Cancer Resources
- Study: Anal Cancer, and Mortality Rates from the Disease, Have Increased — What’s Going On?
- All Americans Should Begin Colorectal Cancer Screening at Age 45, According to New Guidelines; Previous Age Was 50
- Clinical Trials for Colorectal Cancer Can Offer Cutting-Edge Treatment
- Colorectal Cancer Screening: a New Study Questions the Effectiveness of Colonoscopies But Specialists Reinforce its Importance
Understanding Anal Cancer
Anal cancer is a rare tumor that’s most often linked to human papillomavirus (HPV), according to the National Institutes of Health.
There’s a good chance you have HPV if you’re sexually active. However, for most people, it won’t cause any problems. HPV affects both men and women, and in a small percentage, it can lead to cancer, most commonly of the cervix, head, and neck.
Anal Cancer Symptoms
Anal cancer symptoms can include:
- Bleeding from the anus or rectum
- Pain around the anus
- A mass or growth in the anal canal
- Anal itching
These symptoms do not always mean anal cancer, as they can stem from benign conditions like hemorrhoids, anal fissures, or anal warts. If you have any of these symptoms and are concerned something more is going on, it’s to see your doctor to find and treat the cause, if needed.
“These symptoms usually do not develop overnight. Often patients will have symptoms such as pain and bleeding,” Dr. Julian Sanchez, surgeon in Moffitt Cancer Center’s Gastrointestinal Oncology Clinic, told SurvivorNet.
A combination of chemotherapy and radiation is commonly used to treat anal cancer.
“If anal cancer is not treated early and effectively, the survival odds decrease, and patients usually have to have major surgery to remove their anus and rectum,” Dr. Sanchez said.
Cancer warriors battling anal cancer who didn’t begin treatment early enough tend to need a permanent colostomy bag, a small pouch that collects waste from the body.
HPV Prevention
“The vast majority of humans in the U.S., both men and women, will eventually get infected with human papillomavirus,” Dr. Allen Ho, a head and neck surgeon at Cedars-Sinai, told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview.
Most people with the infection are unaware they have it and never develop symptoms or health problems. However, it’s important to note the virus can manifest as warts on your mouth or genitals.
WATCH: Understanding the HPV Vaccine
People should also be aware that HPV puts both men and women at risk of developing several cancers, such as oral cancer and cancers of the cervix, vagina, penis, anus, and throat.
Thankfully, there are ways to protect people from getting HPV, helping to prevent any cancers linked with the disease.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the HPV vaccine is recommended for all male and female preteens 11 to 12 years old in two doses given between six and 12 months. The series of shots can also start as young as 9.
Questions for Your Doctor
If you are concerned about your cancer risk related to the human papillomavirus or whether the HPV causes cancer you have, you can use one of the conversation starters below when talking with your doctor:
- I am unsure if I received the HPV vaccine when I was younger. What can I do to know for sure?
- If I experience symptoms that could be because of HPV, what tests can I undergo to know for sure?
- How can I know if HPV caused the cancer I have?
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
