Further tests may be ordered to determine the extent of the cancer. A CT scan can also be done to check for distant metastases and enlarged lymph nodes. Ultrasound is another test that can show the extent of tumor invasion. The doctor may also recommend chemotherapy or radiation therapy depending on the type of cancer.
In addition to the anal tumor, cancers can develop in other parts of the body, including the skin. If cancer has spread to other parts of the body, it is called metastatic anal cancer. Treatment for cancer in the anus is similar to that for melanomas. However, treatment for cancer in the anus may be different. A precancerous condition, a carcinoma in situ may occur in the anal area but have yet to spread.
While most anal cancers can be cured with chemotherapy, many cancers may recur even after treatment with nonsurgical methods. Surgery is an effective option when cancer returns following nonsurgical methods. Although this option has more side effects, it also has the highest long-term survival rates, with seventy to ninety percent of patients still alive five years after the cancer was diagnosed. The colon and rectal surgeon will also review the results of treatment and determine whether new signs have appeared. Additional studies may be necessary.
Surgery is another treatment option for cancer in the anus. It may be performed as a stand-alone procedure if it is detected in the early stages. Other surgical procedures are used for anal cancer that has returned after previous treatment. Surgery depends on the size and location of the tumor. Resection, for example, is a surgical procedure that removes a tumor that has not spread to the surrounding tissues. In this type of treatment, the cancer may be removed completely, and the patient will continue to have bowel movements after the surgery.
Patients with cancer in the anus may undergo local resection, which removes the tumor along with the healthy tissue surrounding it. This surgery is used when the cancer is confined to the lower part of the anus and has not spread to other areas of the body. In addition, it is possible to save a person’s sphincter muscles, which helps them control their bowel movements. However, this method is more likely to cause urinary incontinence than radiotherapy.
People with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop anal cancer. People with symptoms affecting the anus and rectum should undergo a physical exam to rule out any precancerous conditions. If the cancer is detected early, a biopsy will be performed in the operating room. A small biopsy may be performed under local anesthetic. The stage of the cancer is determined by its size. A stage 0 cancer is classified as a benign tumor that has not spread to the lymph nodes.
