There are types of different treatments for patients with anal cancer
Types of different treatments available for patients with anal cancer. Some
treatments are standard (currently used treatment), and some are being tested
in clinical trials. A clinical trial treatment is a research study meant to
help improve current treatments or obtain information on new treatments for
patients with cancer. When clinical trials show that a new treatment is better
than standard treatments, new treatment may become the standard treatment.
Patients may want to think about taking part in a clinical trial. Some clinical
trials are open only to patients who still have not started treatment.
Three types of standard treatment are used:
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high-powered x-rays or other
types of radiation to kill cancer cells. There are two types of radiation
therapy. External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to send
radiation toward the cancer. Internal radiation therapy uses radioactive
elements are sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters that are placed
directly into or near the cancer. The way the radiation therapy is given
depends on the type and stage of cancer being treated.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer
cells, by killing the cells or by stopping the cells dividing remedy. When
chemotherapy is taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle, the drugs
enter the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the body (systemic
chemotherapy). When chemotherapy is placed directly into the spinal column
(spinal column), organ, or body cavity such as the stomach (abdomen), most
drugs affect cancer cells in those areas (regional chemotherapy). The way the
chemotherapy is given depends on the type and stage of cancer being treated.
Operation
• Local resection: A surgical procedure in which the tumor is cut from the anus
along with some of the surrounding healthy tissue. Local resection may be used
if the cancer is small and has not spread. This procedure may save the
sphincter muscles so the patient can still control bowel movements. Tumors that
develop in the lower part of the anus can often be removed with local
resection.
• Abdominoperineal resection: A surgical procedure in which the anus, rectum, sigmoid colon and part of released / discharged through an incision made in the abdomen. Doctors sewed the tip of the intestine into the opening (mouth), called a stoma, made the surface of the abdomen so body waste can be collected in a disposable bag outside the body. This is called a colostomy. Lymph nodes that contain cancer may also be removed during this operation.
Having the human immunodeficiency virus can affect treatment for anal cancer.
Cancer therapy can further damage the immune systems of patients who are already weakened that have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). For this reason, patients who have anal cancer and HIV are usually treated with doses lower than anticancer drugs and radiation than patients who did not have HIV.
New types of treatment are being tested in clinical trials.
This concluding section describes treatments that are being studied in clinical
trials. He may not mention every new treatment being studied. Information about
clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.
Radiosensitizers
Radiosensitizers are drugs that make tumor cells more sensitive to radiation
therapy. Combining radiation therapy with radiosensitizers may kill more tumor
cells.
Patients may want to think about taking part in a clinical trial.
For some patients, taking part in a clinical trial may be the best treatment option. Clinical trials are part of the cancer research process. Clinical trials conducted to discover whether cancer treatments are safe and effective new or better than standard treatment.
Many of the current standard treatments for cancer are based on clinical trials earlier. Patients who take part in a clinical trial may receive the standard treatment or be among the first to receive the new treatment.
Patients who take part in clinical trials also help improve the way cancer will be treated in the future. Even when clinical trials do not lead to new treatments are effective, they often answer important questions and help move research forward.
Patients can enter clinical trials before, during, or after starting their cancer treatment.
Some clinical trials only include patients who are currently excluded from receiving treatment. Other trials test treatments for patients whose cancer has not become better. There are also clinical trials that test new ways to stop cancer from relapse (turning back) or reduce the side effects of cancer treatment.
Clinical trials under way in many parts of the country
The tests follow-up may be needed.
Some of the tests performed to diagnose the cancer or to find out the stage of the cancer may be repeated. Some tests will be repeated in order to see how well treatment is working. Decisions about whether to continue, modify, or stop treatment may be based on the results of these tests.
Some of these tests will continue to be done from time to time after treatment has ended. The results of these tests can show whether your condition has changed or the cancer has returned. These tests are sometimes called test-follow-up tests or check-ups.