Surgery is a common way to diagnose and treat anal cancer. Radiation can be used alone or in addition to other treatments. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be taken by pill, or it may be put into the body by a needle in a vein or muscle. Chemotherapy is called a systemic treatment because the drugs enter the bloodstream, travel through the body, and can kill cancer cells throughout the body.
Some chemotherapy drugs can also make cancer cells more sensitive to radiation therapy.
Radiation therapy and chemotherapy can be used together to shrink tumors and make an abdominoperineal resection unnecessary. When only limited surgery is required, the sphincter muscle can often be saved. Treatment by stage Treatments for anal cancer depend on the type of disease, stage of disease, and the patient's age and general health. Standard treatment may be considered, based on its effectiveness in patients in past studies, or participation in a clinical trial. Not all patients are cured with standard therapy, and some standard treatments may have more side effects than are desired.