Following the diagnosis and staging of anal cancer, specialists at Penn Medicine will provide you with expert support and evaluation to discuss treatment options and individualized treatment plans.
How is anal cancer treated?
Treatment for anal cancer depends on the type—whether you have cancer of the anal canal or the perianal skin. The main treatment for anal canal cancer is a combination of chemotherapy and radiation. Surgery is rarely needed for anal canal cancer.
Perianal cancer, also known as anal margin cancer, is typically treated with surgery to remove the growth. In all cases of anal cancer, Penn Medicine cancer specialists are committed to doing everything they can to conserve the anus and anal tissue.
Anal cancer treatment options
Anal cancer surgeries and procedures
In most cases, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are effective treatments for anal cancer. But about 15 percent of patients will also need anal cancer surgery.
Doctors typically remove perianal skin cancers using surgery. If you have anal canal cancer, your treatment plan most likely will not involve surgery.
Penn Medicine offers patients one of the most advanced colorectal surgery programs in the United States with a nationally recognized record for high-quality patient care and survivorship. Our surgeons perform two types of surgery for anal cancer—local resection and abdominoperineal resection (APR)—to remove a tumor while preserving muscle movement. Close surveillance and follow-up with the surgeon and medical oncologist are needed to ensure that rare recurrences are detected early.
This procedure removes the tumor and some healthy tissues that surround it. Surgeons do local resections on tumors that are small and haven’t spread. Local resection can cure the cancer.
After the surgery, you should still have control over your bowel movements because the sphincter muscles and anus are intact.
While local resection for anal canal cancer is rare, our surgeons have the expertise to perform this procedure, if appropriate.
If other treatments don’t work or the cancer returns, your doctor may recommend an abdominoperineal resection. During APR surgery, your surgeon:
- Removes the anus, rectum, part of the colon, and sometimes lymph nodes
- Performs a colostomy by attaching the remaining colon to a surgically made opening in your abdomen (stoma)
- Attaches a small bag to collect stool to the stoma
This treatment requires wearing a colostomy bag permanently to collect and remove bodily waste.
APR surgery is a major operation, but we are with you every step of the way. Your care team supports you as you recover, adjust, and get back to daily life.
Comprehensive anal cancer surveillance
Anal cancer sometimes recurs (comes back) after successful treatment. Our team develops a personalized follow-up plan, including regular screenings and check-ups, to fit your situation.
Monitoring your health closely helps us detect a potential problem or cancer recurrence when it’s easier to treat. A special program for GI cancer patients who have had radiation therapy streamlines your long-term follow-up care and helps you stay well after treatment ends.
Why choose Penn Medicine for anal cancer care?
Cancer care is more than treating a disease. Penn Medicine is known for its supportive care. We listen to your concerns and provide resources to help you overcome any treatment challenges.
Our anal cancer program offers:
- Meticulous teamwork: Our medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, pathologists, and radiologists meet regularly to review your test results and weigh in on the right plan for you. Cancer surgeons often work alongside other surgical specialists to perform highly technical procedures and remove anal cancers safely and effectively.
- Innovative therapies: We use precision medicine to tailor therapies to cancer cells’ DNA. Studying your tumor’s genetic profile and tailoring your treatment is the highest form of precision medicine. We also offer a full spectrum of the most advanced and innovative cancer treatments.
- Anal cancer research: Our anal cancer research program gives you unprecedented access to the latest discoveries and advances in care. You benefit from research aimed at both anal conservation and cure of the disease.
- Clinical trial options: Penn Medicine participates in the largest number of clinical trials in the southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey region. Our physicians and scientists are on the front lines of exciting research exploring cancer drugs that harness the power of the body’s immune system (immunotherapy) for anal cancers. We offer options and hope for all cancer types and stages of disease.
- Fast access to treatment: Our oncology nurse navigators get you to the right doctor at the right time, so you can start treatment quickly. We help you see multiple specialists on the same day, so you can spend less time in appointments and more time on what matters to you.
- Comprehensive support: We work hard to help you understand your anal cancer diagnosis and treatment options. You’ll have access to a full array of cancer support services that prioritize your whole health. Our easy-to-use patient portal provides fast answers to questions about treatment side effects or other concerns.
Rated “exceptional” by The National Cancer Institute
Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center is a world leader in cancer research, patient care, and education. Our status as a national leader in cancer care is reflected in our continuous designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) since 1973, one of 7 such centers in the United States. The ACC is also a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, one of a select few cancer centers in the U.S., that are working to promote equitable access to high-quality, advanced cancer care.