The Bo Show

DR. AC: ANAL CANCER ON THE RISE IN GAY MEN

(Audio and Comment Below)

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports nearly 25,000 cases of anal cancer occurred due the human wart virus, the human papillomavirus (HPV) between 1998 and 2003.

HPV is sexually transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. It’s estimated that at least one in five Americans have the disease. But, according The BO Show’s resident Doctor, Dr. AC of the Callan-Lorde Community Health Center in New York City, the number is larger, “probably a much higher number in gay men than one-in-five.”

Dr. AC says the anus is biologically similar to a female’s vagina, “They both have large colonies of bacteria in them, and the same kind of tissue that HPV would infect.” The human wart virus can cause cervical cancer in females, and now anal and mouth cancers in gay men.

Dr. AC suggests both HIV+ and HIV- gay men get tested at least once a year for anal cancer, perhaps more depending on their number of sexual partners. As he says, a brush the size of a pipe cleaner is used, and the screening takes less than five seconds and “it’s not painful in anyway.”

Within the past two years adolescent girls have been offered a HPV vaccine in hopes of lowering their risk of catching the disease and developing cervical cancer. Dr. AC says current medical tests are showing some promising results in vaccinating against anal cancer. But until its effectiveness is proven, the only defense gay men have is prevention. “Get screened to see if you have the virus itself,” he says, and follows up with, “It should not prohibit people from having sex.” Dr. AC says although condoms do not prevent the spreading of HPV you should always wear one.

In this episode of The BO Show, Dr. AC describes what the human papillomavirus is, how it spreads and develops into cancer. He explains why it is important to be honest with your sexual partners and get screened for HPV and anal cancer. He offers up some preventative measures and answers BO’s question of “Should gay men douche?”

Dr. AC’s Medical Center: Callen-Lorde.org