Anal Cancer Treatment

About Anal Cancer

Anal cancer is a malignant tumour of either the anal canal or anal verge, the verge of the gastrointestinal tract. It usually spreads through direct invasion into the surrounding tissue or through the lymphatic system. Spread of anal cancer through the blood is less common, although it can occur.

“Cancers arising from the anal verge represent 25% of all anal cancers.”

Anal cancers can cause due to a number of factors, and it forms when normal healthy cells turn into abnormal cells due to some genetic mutation. Under normal conditions cells multiply at a specific rate, and they also die at a specific rate.

In terms of abnormal cancerous cells, they multiply rapidly and importantly, they don't die off. Meaning that they eventually grow out of control and start accumulating, which leads to the formation of a tumour. If left untreated, these cancerous cells can travel to distant organs, and cause harm to the normal functioning of the body.

Patients who have anal dysplasia, careful surveillance can result in early detection of anal cancer, and a higher rate of success with treatment. However, removal of areas of anal dysplasia is usually unsuccessful. The rate of recurrence of anal dysplasia after surgical or laser removal is very high.