Im Dr. Butthole beware this warning sign that could lead to a scary silent disease

That’s a bummer!Anal cancer is on the rise, particularly among white and Hispanic women over the age of 65.The lifetime risk of developing anal cancer is around 1 in 500, according to the American Cancer Society, which predicts about 11,000 new cases and 2,000 deaths this year.Dr.

Evan Goldstein, an NYC-based anal surgeon known colloquially as Dr.Butthole and “the bottom whisperer,” cautions about a warning sign that can increase the risk of getting diagnosed with this “silent disease.”“Anal cancer stems from the HPV virus and, for many, from the development of anal warts,” Goldstein, founder and CEO of Bespoke Surgical and Future Method, told The Post.About 90% of anal cancers are linked to infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV).HPV is a group of over 200 related viruses primarily spread through skin-to-skin contact.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 85% of people will get HPV at some point.Certain strains of HPV are known to cause anal warts — and these benign growths can be difficult to distinguish.They may present as a single bump in the anal region or as a cluster that resembles cauliflower.

Most are raised, but some are flat.“Many think they are just skin tags and then find out it’s anal warts from HPV,” said Goldstein, author of “Butt Seriously: The Definitive Guide to Anal Health, Pleasure and Everything In Between.”“They can be painful and itchy and lead to bleeding.”Some patients don’t have any symptoms and may not know they have anal warts.Treatment includes topical medications, cryotherapy or surgical removal.The body’s immune system often clears HPV infections naturally, usually within a few years, but some persist.Chronic infections with certain high-risk types of HPV can cause changes in anal cells, potentially leading to precancerous lesions.If left untreated, they can progress to invasive anal cancer.Symptoms of anal cancer include rectal bleeding, a lump near the an...