Anal cancer
Types of treatment Save this page
Treatments for anal cancer can include:
- radiation therapy (radiotherapy)
- chemotherapy
- surgery
- immunotherapy – may be available through clinical trials.
- palliative care.
Most people with anal cancer have a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, known as chemoradiation, and a smaller number of people will have surgery.
Not all treatments are suitable for every person with anal cancer.
Choose the option that best suits your situation
Radiation therapy is a way of treating cancers using X-rays or other types of radiation.
Chemotherapy, also known as chemo, is a way of treating cancer using drugs.
The type of surgery you have depends on your cancer.
Targeted therapy uses drugs that affect specific cells in some cancers.
Immunotherapy helps the body’s immune system to fight cancer.
Palliative care deals with managing symptoms and improving quality of life.
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It is good to be prepared for side effects and know how to manage them.
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It is important to ask about costs before you start your treatment.