Treatment
There are many ways to treat anal cancer depending on the stage, location and type of cancer. The most common cancer, i.e. Squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal, is treated with chemoradiation therapy. Surgery is generally reserved for cases who have not responded to chemoradiation therapy.
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy for anal cancer
- Medical Oncology
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In most cases, surgery is not the first treatment used for anal cancer. Surgery is generally offered for patients who have failed after chemoradiation or when they are eligible for treatment with chemoradiation. For people who do need surgery, the type of operation depends on the type and location of the tumor.
- Local Resection: A local resection is an operation that removes only the tumor, plus a small amount of normal tissue around the tumor. It’s most often used to treat cancers of the perianal area (also called the anal margin) if the tumor is small and has not spread to nearby tissues or lymph nodes.
- Abdominoperineal Resection (APR): APR is the removal of the anal canal, rectum and its adjoining lymph nodes. The anus (and the anal sphincter) is removed, so a new opening needs to be made for stool to leave the body. To do this, the end of the colon is attached to a small hole (called a stoma) made on the abdomen. A bag to collect stool sticks to the body over the opening. This is called a colostomy. In cases of those undergoing APR, the colostomy is permanent, and the stools pass through the newly constructed colostomy.
