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Sometimes anal cancer causes no symptoms at all. But bleeding is often the first sign of the disease. The bleeding is usually minor.
Signs and symptoms of anal cancer can be different for different people. Anal cancer symptoms may not go away. However, some symptoms may go away and then come back.
Important symptoms of anal cancer include:
These types of symptoms are often more likely to be caused by benign (non-cancer) conditions, like hemorrhoids, anal fissures, or anal warts. Still, if you have any of these symptoms, it’s important to have them checked by a doctor so that the cause can be found and treated, if needed.
Bleeding from the anus or rectum is often the first sign of anal cancer, but it is more often caused by hemorrhoids. Even though hemorrhoids are more common than anal cancer, it's important not to assume that if you have rectal bleeding, it's from hemorrhoids. If you have rectal bleeding, it's important to talk to your doctor.
Hemorrhoids are swollen or inflamed blood vessels (veins) in the lining of the anus or rectum. Everyone has these blood vessels, and even minor swelling doesn't usually cause problems. But hemorrhoids can start to cause problems if they get larger, become painful, or bleed. While they’re not usually serious, hemorrhoids can make daily life harder for some people.
Hemorrhoids can swell and bleed due to:
The most common signs and symptoms of hemorrhoids are:
Since these problems can also be signs of anal cancer, it’s still important to check with a doctor—especially if the bleeding continues or you also have other symptoms like a lump or pain.
In its early stages, anal cancer may cause no noticeable symptoms. Some people experience gradual changes over time, such as mild discomfort or occasional bleeding, but might not realize they could be warning signs.
Because bleeding is often the first symptom, it’s important not to ignore it, even if it seems minor. As anal cancer grows, you may start to feel a lump, mass, or tumor. If you notice any symptoms that are new and don't go away, talk to your doctor. Finding anal cancer early means treatment is more likely to be successful.
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as editors and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
Bleday R. Patient education: Hemorrhoids (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate. 2024. Accessed at https://www.uptodate.com/contents/hemorrhoids-beyond-the-basics on February 24, 2025.
Czito BG, Ahmed S, Kalady MF, and Eng C. Chapter 64: Cancer of the anal region. In: DeVita VT, Lawrence TS, Rosenberg SA, eds. DeVita, Hellman, and Rosenberg’s Cancer: Principles & Practice of Oncology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2019.
Goodman KA, Kachnic LA, Czito BG. Chapter 76: Cancer of the anal canal. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Doroshow JH, Kastan MB, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff’s Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa. Elsevier: 2020.
National Cancer Institute Physician Data Query (PDQ). Anal Cancer Treatment. 2020. Updated November 25, 2019. Accessed at https://www.cancer.gov/types/anal/patient/anal-treatment-pdq#_1 on March 26, 2020.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Anal Carcinoma. V.1.2020. Accessed at www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/anal.pdf on March 26, 2020.
Last Revised: March 20, 2025
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