Anal carcinoma is a malignant tumor located in the anal canal (part of the rectum), also known as anal cancer. Once diagnosed, surgical treatment by a specialist in proctology (rectal diseases) or visceral surgery (surgery of the abdominal cavity) is required. Depending on the stage, the disease is very treatable and has a good chance of recovery.
Anal carcinoma surgery is a surgical treatment used for anal carcinoma. Anal carcinoma accounts for significantly less than five percent of all cancers in the bowel.
The average age of affected patients is 70 years. In most cases, the malignant tumor can be completely removed surgically. Many patients can be completely cured.
Treatment depends largely on the specific findings. If the tumor is still small and in the early stages, the doctor can usually remove it completely surgically.
Doctors also combine this procedure with chemotherapy and radiation(radiochemotherapy). This combination has proven to be particularly effective in curing the disease in the long term.
If the cancer is very advanced, it is often possible to achieve results that improve the quality of life. If necessary, doctors will remove part of the bowel and create an artificial bowel outlet (stoma). However, this is rare and only applies to extensive tumors.
Operations in which an artificial anus is not required are much more common.
Cancer in the anus (anal carcinoma) develops in the skin cells directly around the anus or in the mucous membrane of the transition area between the anus and rectum (the anal canal) @ bilderzwerg /AdobeStock
Theprimary aim of an operation is to prevent further spread of the disease and removal of the affected tissue. A malignant tumor must not be allowed to remain in the body, so doctors should remove it quickly.
Furthermore, it is important to kill all tumor cells and maintain anal functions in their natural state (bowel movements). The focus here is on the best possible quality of life.
As a rule, the specialists involved agree on the individual procedure for each patient at a tumor conference. These experts include specialists from the following disciplines
Surgical intervention is not always immediately necessary when anal cancer is diagnosed.
Very good results are often achieved with radiochemotherapy, which can even lead to complete tumor regression.
The respective procedures initially depend on the size of the tumor and the stage of the disease. The doctor determines the extent of the tumor during an appropriate examination.
Radiochemotherapy is at the beginning of the therapy. This treatment is sufficient for over 70 percent of all patients. Only if remnants of the tumor are still detectable afterwards does the doctor recommend surgical treatment.
In combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the doctor not only irradiates the tumor area. Additional irradiation of the lymph nodes in the pelvis and groin increases the likelihood of eliminating all cancer cells.
Treatment based on intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is particularly useful for radiotherapy. It is better adapted to the tumor than other radiotherapies.
Surgery should remove all tumor tissue. Rectal extirpation (removal of the rectum) is also an option for this purpose. The doctor uses this procedure if the disease is at a very advanced stage or in the event of recurrence (return of the disease).
Follow-up examinations after anal carcinoma surgery are fundamentally important in order to detect a recurrence of the disease at an early stage. This also enables further treatment to be started quickly.
In the first 12 months after diagnosis, a check-up should take place every three months. In the second year every six months and then once a year.
The appointments for follow-up care take place on an outpatient basis and depend on the treatment received. As a rule, the doctor will first carry out a physical examination. This is followed by a sonography (ultrasound) of the abdomen. If necessary, the doctor will use further imaging procedures.
These include
In addition to attending follow-up appointments, patients should also make sure they lead a healthy lifestyle.
This includes
The prognosis (prediction) for the disease is good overall. The statistical data collected on this covers a period of five years after the disease is diagnosed. According to this, around 70 to 90 percent of all affected patients are still alive at this time.
In principle, there are easily treatable complications with every operation. These include, for example
In the first few weeks after treatment, pain during bowel movements, constipation or a foreign body sensation are possible. These symptoms gradually diminish over time.
Radiochemotherapy treatment also frequently causes side effects, but these usually disappear after a few weeks. Possible side effects include diarrhea-like symptoms, pain when urinating or inflammation in the anal area.
The inflammation is usually caused by the radiation exposure of the intensity-modulated therapy.
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Today, surgery is only performed if the tumor does not completely regress under radiochemotherapy @ jaojormami /AdobeStock
Anal cancer is one of the most treatable types of bowel cancer. If you are affected, it is important to put yourself in the hands of an expert in bowel disease.
Take the time to find out about your treatment options and your diagnosis. Do not hesitate to ask your doctor questions. The better informed you are, the more confident you will feel as your treatment progresses.
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