This papilomatos human infection (HPV) is a risk factor for anal cancer. Risk factors for anal cancer are: - Age over 50 years - This papilomatos human infection (HPV) - Multiple sexual partners - Practice anal sex - This frequency of erythematic (redness), inflammation and itching (itch) anal - This anal fistulas (abnormal connection between two cavities) - Smoking.
The prognosis depends on the following factors: - Tumor size - Location of the tumor in the anus - Whether or not the cancer has spread to lymph nodes.
Therapeutic options depend on the following factors: - Stage cancer - Location of the tumor in the anus - If the patient is infected or not with human papilomatos virus (HPV) - If cancer remains following the initial treatment or is a recurring (initially cured but came back).
Patients with anal cancer have several treatment options. Some treatments are standard (the ones currently used) and others are only in the testing stage of clinical trials. Before beginning treatment, the patient may want to be part of such a clinical trial. The treatment used in clinical trial is actually a study that aims to improve current treatments or obtain information on new treatments. When clinical trial proves that the new treatment is superior to standard therapy, new treatment becomes the standard treatment.
Choosing the most appropriate treatment is a decision that ideally should be taken by patients, with their family or their doctor.
Currently are being used 3 types of standard treatment:
1. Radiotherapy
Radiation therapy is one way to treat cancer using high energy X-rays or other types of rays to kill cancer cells. There are 2 types of radiation therapy. External radiation therapy uses an apparatus situated outside the body to send rays to the affected area. Internal radiation therapy uses radioactive substances introduced by needles, implants, wires or catheters placed in / or near the tumor. Type of radiotherapy applied depends on the type and stage of cancer.
2. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a method of treating cancer using drugs that block the growth of cancer cells, either by killing cells or by stopping their division (multiplication). When chemotherapy is taken orally or injected intravenously or intramuscularly, the product comes into the torrent of blood and reaches cancer cells throughout the body.
This is systemic chemotherapy. When chemotherapy is placed directly into the spinal cord, in an organ or a cavity and abdomen, the drug has no effect on cancer cells especially in the area. This is regional chemotherapy. How chemotherapy is administered depends on the type and stage of cancer. This is an article on “what is anal cancer”. For more information on anal cancer or any other types of cancer, you can use cancer.about.com.