HPV-Associated Anal Cancer Rates by Race and Ethnicity

It is estimated that about 3,000 new cases of HPV-associated anal cancers are diagnosed in women and about 1,700 are diagnosed in men each year in the United States.* More white women get anal cancer than women of other races. More black men get anal cancer than men of other races.

*Note: This study used cancer registry data to estimate the amount of potentially HPV-associated cancer in the United States by examining cancer in parts of the body and cancer cell types that are more likely to be caused by HPV. Cancer registries do not collect data on the presence or absence of HPV in cancer tissue at the time of diagnosis. In general, HPV is thought to be responsible for about 90% of anal cancers.

HPV-Associated Anal Cancer Rates by Race, Ethnicity, and Sex, United States, 2004–2008

The graph above shows the age-adjusted incidence rates for anal cancer in the United States during 2004–2008. "AI/AN" means American Indian/Alaska Native, and "A/PI" means Asian/Pacific Islander. The rates shown are the number of men or women who were diagnosed with anal cancer for every 100,000 men or women.

• Among whites, about 2.0 women and 1.1 men per 100,000 were diagnosed with anal cancer.
• Among blacks, about 1.4 women and 1.6 men per 100,000 were diagnosed with anal cancer.
• Among American Indian/Alaska Natives, about 1.0 women and 0.7 men per 100,000 were diagnosed with anal cancer.
• Among Asian/Pacific Islanders, about 0.4 women and 0.2 men per 100,000 were diagnosed with anal cancer.
• Among Hispanics, about 1.4 women and 0.8 men per 100,000 were diagnosed with anal cancer.
• Among non-Hispanics, about 1.9 women and 1.2 men per 100,000 were diagnosed with anal cancer.

This graph was adapted from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Human papillomavirus–associated cancers—United States, 2004–2008. MMWR 2012;61(15):258–261.