If you’re wondering if you have anal cancer, you’re not alone. Twenty percent of people with the disease have no symptoms at all. In fact, it’s rare for people with anal cancer to have symptoms. This is because they don’t know they have the disease until it has spread to other parts of the body. Fortunately, there are many ways to test for the condition, and a good doctor can find it quickly.
To diagnose anal cancer, you should consult a doctor. The cancer’s size will determine what type of treatment is right for you. If it’s a stage I tumour, it must be two centimetres in diameter or smaller. Stage II tumours can be any size, and they may have spread to nearby organs or lymph nodes. If it’s stage III, the cancer has already spread to distant parts of the body.
The symptoms of anal cancer may be caused by a variety of different conditions. Sometimes, it’s difficult to identify the condition because the symptoms are similar to those of less serious illnesses. As a result, more than 50% of cases of anal cancer are not diagnosed for a long time. Consequently, you need to consult a physician for a proper diagnosis. If your symptoms are persistent and/or you’ve had bowel movements that are more than normal, you should visit a colon and rectal surgeon.
Although most cases of anal cancer are curable, the treatments are often complicated. In addition to chemoradiation, anal cancer is often treated with surgery. After completing a course of chemotherapy, your healthcare provider may recommend follow-up visits every six months for a period of up to 24 months. Your doctor may also prescribe long-term surveillance. In addition to evaluating your symptoms, you should also monitor blood in your stools and bowel movements.
The best way to determine if you have an anal cancer is to have a biopsy. The biopsy process involves removing a portion of the anal tumour. The biopsy also allows doctors to examine the rest of the anal cavity. Typically, it will take a few days for the cancer to grow to a stage three or four. After the tumour has spread, it will require surgery. The surgery for anal cancer can be fatal.
In addition to the physical exam, you should have a biopsy performed. The biopsy is important for two reasons. First, it enables a doctor to assess whether or not a cancer has spread to nearby areas. The second reason is that it can cause a significant amount of pain and discomfort. Secondly, it can be dangerous for you. You can suffer from anal cancer if you have a history of bowel cancer.
