What is Anal Cancer Treatment ?
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), 10 years of experience
What is the meaning of Anal Cancer?
Anal cancer is a term used for abnormal growth of cells in the anal area or the anal canal. The anal canal is a short tube seen at the end of the rectum (the last part of the large intestine). The anus is the part from which the stool leaves the body. It is known as the end part of the gastrointestinal tract. Anal cancer is uncommon and can affect 1 out of 500 to 600 people. It is more commonly seen in women as compared to men.
In this article, we will be discussing in detail about anal cancer.
- What are the types of Anal Cancers?
- What are the causes of Anal Cancer?
- What are the risk factors of Anal Cancer?
- What are the symptoms of Anal Cancer?
- How to diagnose Anal Cancer?
- What are the various Anal Cancer Treatments?
- What are the complications of Anal Cancer Treatments?
- How to prevent Anal Cancer?
- What is the cost of Anal Cancer Treatment in India?
What are the types of Anal Cancers?
There various types of anal cancers are:
- Benign tumors: These are non-cancerous types of tumors. The different types of benign anal cancers include polyps, skin tags, genital warts (or condylomas), and granular cell tumors.
- Precancerous conditions: These are benign tumors that become malignant (cancerous) over time. Examples include anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) and anal squamous intraepithelial neoplasia (ASIL).
- Squamous cell carcinoma: This is the most common type of anal cancer. These are malignant anal tumors and are caused by abnormal squamous cells (the cells lining most of the anal canal).
- Basal cell carcinoma: This is a rare form of anal cancer. It usually affects the skin which is exposed to the sun. ( Know more about- What is Colon cancer? Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention )
- Bowen’s disease: It is also known as squamous cell carcinoma in situ. It is characterized by the presence of abnormal cells on the surface of the anal tissue, that have not invaded the deeper layers.
- Adenocarcinoma: This is a rare form of cancer that develops from the glands that surround the anus.
What are the causes of Anal Cancer?
- Anal cancer develops when certain genetic changes (mutations) turn the healthy and normal cells into abnormal cells.
- The abnormal cells grow and multiply rapidly to form a tumor or mass.
- These cancer cells can spread (metastasize) to the other parts of the body.
- Anal cancer is commonly associated with the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV), which is a sexually transmitted infection. ( Know more about- What is Human Papillomavirus (HPV)? Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention )
What are the risk factors of Anal Cancer?
Certain factors increase the risk of developing anal cancer. These factors are:
- Age above 50 years
- Multiple sexual partners
- Engaging in anal sex
- More common in women
- Smoking
- History of cancer
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection
- HIV and AIDS (conditions that suppress the body’s immune system or disease-fighting system) ( Know more about- What are symptoms of Sexually Transmitted Diseases ? Types, Prevention )
- Immunosuppressive drugs
What are the symptoms of Anal Cancer?
The various symptoms associated with anal cancer are:
- Bleeding from anus region or rectum ( Know more about- What is Blood in Stool? Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention )
- A lump or mass in the anal canal
- Itching (pruritus)
- Pain
- Change in bowel movements
- Narrow stools
- Discharge from the anus
How to diagnose Anal Cancer?
- Physical examination: The doctor will first physically examine the patient. The patient’s medical history and symptoms are noted.
- Digital rectal exam: The doctor inserts his lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum to check for any unusual growths.
- Anoscopy: The doctor may use a small, lighted tube called an anoscope to check the anal canal and the rectum.
- Ultrasound of the anal canal: A probe is inserted into the anal canal and the rectum. This probe emits high-energy sound waves known as ultrasound waves to create images of the anal canal.
- Biopsy: The surgeon removes a sample of the tissue growth and sends it to the laboratory to check for the presence of cancer cells and the type of cancer cells present.
- Imaging tests: Tests like the CT scan, MRI scan, PET scan help in creating images of the internal organs of the body. It helps in diagnosing anal cancer and how far it has spread in the body.
What are the various Anal Cancer Treatments?
The type of treatment given for anal cancer depends on the stage of cancer, how far cancer has spread, and the overall health of the patient.
The various modes of treatment for anal cancer are:
- Combination of Chemotherapy and Radiation therapy: This is the most common form of treatment for anal cancer.
- Chemotherapy:
-
- Certain medications are either taken orally as pills or injected into the veins (intravenously) to kill the cancer cells.
- These drugs travel through the bloodstream to kill the rapidly growing cancer cells.
- Unfortunately, they can also damage healthy cells.
- Radiation therapy:
-
- This is a procedure of using high-powered energy beams like x-rays and protons to kill the cancer cells.
- Radiation therapy can damage the healthy tissue near the area where the beams are aimed.
- Radiation therapy for anal cancer is done for five to six weeks. Chemotherapy is usually administered in the first and fifth weeks
- Surgery:
- The doctor uses different types of surgical procedures for the removal of anal cancer, depending on the stage of the cancer.
- Surgery for the removal of anal cancer in the early stages:
-
- Anal cancer along with a small amount of the surrounding healthy tissue removed in cases of very small anal cancers.
- The doctor tries to preserve the anal sphincter muscles (muscles controlling the bowel movements) surrounding the anal canal while removing cancer.
- Sometimes, the doctor may recommend chemotherapy and radiation therapy after surgery.
- Surgery for anal cancer that does not respond to other forms of treatment:
-
- If anal cancer does not respond to chemotherapy or radiation therapy, the surgeon may recommend an abdominoperineal resection surgery.
- This procedure involves the removal of the anal canal, rectum, and a part of the colon to an opening (stoma) in the abdomen, through which the waste leaves the body and gets collected in a colostomy bag.
- Immunotherapy:
-
- This procedure boosts the body’s immune (disease-fighting) system to fight cancer.
- This procedure is usually done in advanced cases of anal cancer.
- Supportive / palliative care:
-
- This is a form of specialized medical care that provides relief from pain and other symptoms associated with a serious illness.
- Palliative care is provided by doctors, nurses, and other trained specialists.
- It can be used along with other forms of treatment used for anal cancer.
- Supportive care helps in improving the quality of life of cancer patients and their families.
What are the complications of Anal Cancer Treatments?
The complications associated with the various anal cancer treatments are:
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Pain
- Sleep disorders
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Sores in and around the anus
- Shrinking and hardening of the anal canal
- Skin changes
- Anal irritation
- Low blood counts
- Upset stomach
- Loose bowel movements
- Hair loss
- Loss of appetite
- Mouth ulcers or sores ( Know more about- What is Mouth Cancer treatment? Symptoms, Causes, Treatments, Cost )
- Chances of infection
- Bleeding
If you notice any of the above symptoms post-treatment for anal cancer, contact your doctor immediately.
How to prevent Anal Cancer?
There is no absolute way to prevent anal cancer. However, the following steps can decrease the risk of developing anal cancer:
- Quit smoking
- Use condoms during sex
- Get vaccination against HPV infection
What is the cost of Anal Cancer Treatment in India?
The total cost of anal cancer treatment in India can range from around INR 2,00,000 to INR 6,00,000. However, the cost of the procedure may vary across different hospitals. There are many big hospitals and specialized doctors in India for anal cancer treatment. The cost varies across different hospitals..
If you are coming from abroad, in addition to the expenses of anal cancer treatment, there will be a cost of staying in a hotel, cost of living, and cost of local travel. Apart from this, after the procedure, the patient is kept in hospital for 5 days and in the hotel for 15 days for recovery. So, the total cost of anal cancer treatment in India comes to be around INR 2,60,000 to INR 6,80,000.
We hope that we were able to answer all your questions regarding anal cancer through this article.
If you want more information and treatment for anal cancer, you can contact the Surgical Oncologist.
We only aim to give you information through the article and do not recommend medication or treatment in any way. Only a doctor can give you the best advice and correct treatment plan.
