Besides this, many people have no symptoms at all. In fact, 20 out of 100 people diagnosed with anal cancer have no symptoms at all. The good news is that early detection of anal cancer is crucial for survival.
Symptoms of anal cancer include a pain in the rectum, and a feeling of fullness. The symptoms may also be due to haemorrhoids or tears in the anal canal. Most of the cases of anal cancer are caused by the human papilloma virus. Symptoms are determined through digital anorectal examinations and the collection of a tissue sample for testing.
The first step in treatment of anal cancer is determining the stage of the disease. The tumour size should be no more than two centimeters. If it is larger, it is called stage II. The next step is surgery. If the tumour is stage IIIA or IIIB, the doctor may perform an abdomino-perineal resection. The procedure also involves removing a part of the rectum, lymph nodes near the anus, and the groin. A permanent stoma is created and the patient is assigned a stoma nurse, who assists them in living with their new colostomy.
Once the cancer has spread to the rectum, patients may experience an abdomino-perineal resection. This involves the removal of part of the anus and some lymph nodes in the groin. The surgical procedure creates a permanent stoma, which is a small opening in the anus. During recovery, patients may experience pain in the anus and changes in bowel movements.
The stage of anal cancer is determined by its size and location. Anal cancer may spread to other parts of the body. If the cancer is stage II, it is usually confined to the anus. A surgical resection will remove the entire anus, rectum, and lymph nodes in the groin. The surgery will create a permanent stoma. If the tumour has spread to lymph nodes, it is considered stage IIIB.
In the case of stage IIIB, the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in the rectum. Anal cancer has three stages. Each stage varies in its treatment options. In case of stage I, the cancer is two centimetres or less. The third stage is larger than two centimetres. During stage II, the cancer has spread to the lymph node in the rectum.
Depending on the T-stage of the tumour, the clinical presentation varies. Early stage cancer is less severe than stage IIIA. It may have spread to nearby organs. Eventually, it may spread to distant parts of the body. However, the clinical presentation is similar for patients with both types of tumors. If anal cancer is caught early, patients can continue their daily activities. They may be able to resume work and other normal activities as a result of chemoradiation and radiotherapy.