December 11, 2025
Let’s Talk Anal Cancer
More than 10,000 people in the U.S. faced an anal cancer diagnosis last year.1 While anal cancer is rare, cases are on the rise by about 3% a year, with squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal (SCAC) accounting for about 85% of cases.1,2
Anal cancer shares many of the same symptoms as non-cancerous conditions, such as hemorrhoids — including pain, itching, a lump or mass and changes in bowel movements — and as a result can go undetected, leading to the majority of patients presenting with locally advanced disease.3,4 This was the case for Mary, who was told she had hemorrhoids for years, only to be diagnosed with stage 3 SCAC after her cancer had spread. Mary’s experience is common. Susie and Daniel faced similar dismissals — their anal cancer symptoms were initially attributed to less serious conditions before being diagnosed.
Mary, Susie and Daniel are anal cancer “thrivers” collaborating with Incyte to share their deeply personal journeys as part of Let’s Talk Anal Cancer, a national program developed to confront embarrassment that can silence vital communication between anal cancer patients and healthcare professionals, delay diagnosis and isolate people from key social supports during their cancer journey.
The program shares patients’ personal stories with the goal of modeling open dialogue and providing critical information about risk factors, symptoms and the patient journey that is specific to this diagnosis.
By engaging patients, advocates and anal cancer experts through Let’s Talk Anal Cancer, a better understanding of the barriers and unmet needs of people with anal cancer was gained. Timely diagnosis and patients’ comfort level in accessing social supports after diagnosis are both adversely impacted by the social stigma and embarrassment associated with the cancer’s location, as well as its link to the common skin-to-skin human papillomavirus (HPV), present in 90% of SCAC cases.
Mary, Susie and Daniel together embody the vulnerability and strength it takes to face anal cancer and demonstrate that no one should feel they must face it alone, and hope their stories and experiences encourage others to take action and have open conversations with their doctors and loved ones.
Letting four little letters get in the way of talking openly with your doctor is just not worth it.
Watch the video and visit AnalCancer.com for tools, including a downloadable discussion guide, to empower people with anal cancer to speak frankly at all stages of this rare disease.
References
1 National Cancer Institute. Cancer Stat Facts: Anal Cancer.
https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/anus.html. Accessed November 4, 2025.
2 Symer MM, Yeo HL. F1000Research. 2018;7:F1000 Faculty Rev-1572.
3 Rao S, et al. Ann Oncol. 2020;31(4):S1170-S1171.
4 Anal Cancer Foundation. Anal Cancer: Signs, Symptoms, Causes & Treatment. https://www.analcancerfoundation.org/what-is-anal-cancer/. Accessed August 20, 2025.
