Early detection is key, and the best treatment involves chemotherapy and radiation. However, the survival rate for localized anal cancer is only 61 percent, and for metastatic anal carcinoma, it is only 30 percent. Anal cancer is a very treatable disease, and the five-year survival rate is 66 percent.
Anal cancer can be internal or external, and it can’t be felt without a medical exam. However, anal cancer that is on the outside is usually visible, and the tumor may be hard. It feels much harder than hemorrhoids, which are soft scars. It may resemble a frozen pea, or a pebble. Those who have no other symptoms are at higher risk.
If a tumour is too small to be detected by tests, the treatment options are limited to surgery. The first step in treating anal cancer is to determine the stage. If the tumour is too small to be felt through the skin, it will be removed surgically. The next step will be chemotherapy. In some cases, cancer may not be detected until it has spread to nearby organs. In other cases, anal cancer is difficult to treat because of its rarity.
Despite the possibility of side effects from anal cancer treatment, surgery is the only cure for this type of cancer. However, it’s not a cure for anal cancer. Even if chemotherapy and radiation don’t work, there’s still no cure for anal cancer, so it is essential to treat the disease as early as possible. In some cases, surgical treatment may cause side effects, and a doctor may decide to perform surgery.
The first anal cancer symptom is bowel incontinence. Anal cancer can affect the bowels and can make a person feel unable to control their bowel movements. For this reason, it’s important to seek treatment as soon as possible. Anal tumors can grow in any size, and a biopsy will confirm the extent of the disease. Anal tumours can spread to the lungs, liver, or bones.
In general, anal cancer symptoms can be mild or severe. It can occur in any part of the anus. Patients with anal cancer should be evaluated by a doctor for proper diagnosis. A biopsy of the tumour is recommended if there’s any sensitivity. After surgery, the cancer will be removed. Anal surgery may also be necessary to remove the tumour. Depending on its location, anal cancer symptoms can range from pain and discomfort to severe bleeding.
In order to diagnose anal cancer, doctors perform several tests, including an ultrasound of the anus. MRI is useful in determining the size of the tumour, and it can also help determine whether the cancer has spread to lymph nodes near the rectum or to other organs. An abdominoperineal resection is a more complex procedure that requires an incision in the abdomen. It is not recommended for patients with a small tumour.