Symptoms of anal cancer can include:

• bleeding from the bottom
• itching and pain around the anus
• small lumps around and inside the bottom
• a discharge of mucus from the bottom
• having problems controlling when you poo (bowel incontinence)
• needing to poo often with looser, runnier poos

Anal cancer may have no symptoms at all, or they might be hard to spot.

Anal cancer symptoms are often similar to piles (haemorrhoids) and anal fissures, which are common and less serious conditions.

See a GP if you:

Important

Having these symptoms does not definitely mean you have anal cancer. But it's important to get them checked by a GP.

This is because if they're caused by cancer, finding it early makes it more treatable.

The GP will ask you some questions about your health and your symptoms.

They may feel your tummy and insert a gloved finger into your bottom to feel for lumps or anything wrong.

After the GP examines you, they may refer you to see a specialist in hospital if they think more tests are needed.

You'll receive an appointment, usually within 2 weeks, if you have certain symptoms. This does not definitely mean you have cancer.

Find out more

Cancer Research UK: seeing a GP about symptoms of anal cancer.