It occurs at the opening end of the gastrointestinal tract which is called anus from where stool is passed. It is not a common type of cancer and it develops at the lining of the anal canal. It is mainly related to HPV infection and other factors. Its severity depends on its location, size and stage.

It is found that this uncommon type of cancer affects one individual in 500 and they are looking for the best treatment. After diagnosing anal cancer and its stage then it is important to choose right and effective treatment options.

Stages of Anal Cancer

There are various stages of this cancer which are mentioned below:-

Stage 0 – It is a precancerous stage which shows the presence of abnormal cells. These cells have not spread to other tissue but it could become cancer in the future.
Stage 1– These types are very small and remain in a specific area where it begins.
Stage 2 & Stage 3 – During this stage, cancer starts to spread to nearby tissues.
Stage 4 – It is a metastatic stage in which it spreads to many areas of the body. It cannot be cured easily.

Symptoms of Anal Cancer

More often it does not have any symptoms and if it has then these can vary from person to person:-

Anal discharge
Pain around the anus
Severe rectal bleeding
Lymph nodes of the anal area gets swollen
Change in bowel habit, such as frequency and consistency of poop.
A lump of mass appears at the opening of the anal area.
Feeling needs to poop more frequently.

Causes

The exact reason to cause anal cancer is not known yet. However, there are some risk factors which may lead to this type of medical problem. These are as follows:-

Infection caused by a virus called human papillomavirus by engaging in sex with multiple partners.
Individuals who are above 60 years
Weak immune system
Engage in anal sex
Person who smoke in excess may develop such type of cancer
Have other types of cancer, like vaginal and cervical cancer

Diagnosis

After experiencing its symptoms, your doctor will run some tests to diagnose anal cancer. There are some endoscopic test which are done and are given below:-

Proctoscopy – A thin instrument with light and lens is used to see the anus and rectum. Then using a proctoscope, tissue is removed as a sample to check the sign of cancer.
Digital Rectal Examination – It includes the examination of the rectum and anus. It is done by a doctor by applying lubricant on the finger. Then it is inserted to feel any lumps.
Biopsy – To check the sign of cancer, a small piece of tissue is removed. Then it is checked by a pathologist to see any sign of cancer.
Anoscopy – To see any abnormalities in the anus, a short tube is inserted for examination.
Endorectal Ultrasound – A probe is placed inside the anus to see the image of the organ by using ultrasound.

When anal cancer gets diagnosed then there are some other tests to find out in which parts of the body get spread.

X-ray of the chest
CAT scan
Pelvic examination
MRI
PET scan

All these tests are run to determine the stage of disease. When it spreads to other parts of the body then it is called staging.

Treatment of Anal Cancer

The chance of recovery and treatment depend on the various factors:-

The stage of the cancer
Location of tumor in the anus
Infected with HIV
Recur after initial treatment

Types of Treatment

There are various treatment options for anal cancer and these are mentioned below:-

1. Chemotherapy

Chemo drugs are used to kill and stop the growth of cancerous cells. It is taken by mouth or may be through injection. So the medicine can reach to the cancerous cells through the bloodstream.

2. Immunotherapy

Strong immune system is important to fight against the anal cancer. A doctor will advise immunotherapy medicines. Then biomarker tests are conducted to predict the response of these drugs.

3. Radiation Therapy

A high-energy radiation is used to destroy the cancer cells to prevent them from growing. Different types of radiation are used to target the area of the body.

4. Surgery

When above mentioned therapies are not effective in treating cancer and it comes back then surgery is suggested. It is done in two ways:-

If the cancer has not spread and is small then the tumor is removed along with healthy tissues from the anus. It is done by local resection procedure.
There is another surgical procedure in which a small cut is made in the abdomen. Then the rectum, anus and sigmoid colon are cut and after the process, opening of the intestine is stitched. The body’s waste is collected in a disposable bag.