Treatment for STAGE II ANAL CANCER, STAGE IIIA ANAL CANCER, STAGE IIIB ANAL CANCER

February 1, 2005 (Press Release) -- STAGE II ANAL CANCER

Treatment may be one of the following:


1. Simple surgery to remove all of the cancer.
2. Radiation therapy plus chemotherapy. Some patients may also receive therapy that involves placing radioactive substances in the tissues surrounding the cancer to destroy the cancer (interstitial radiation therapy).

3. If cancer cells remain following therapy, surgery removing the anus and lower part of the rectum may be performed. An opening will be made for waste to pass of out the body (colostomy) into a disposable bag attached near the colostomy (colostomy bag).

4. If cancer cells remain following therapy, additional chemotherapy plus radiation therapy may be performed.


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STAGE IIIA ANAL CANCER

Treatment may be one of the following:


1. Radiation therapy plus chemotherapy.
2. Additional radiation therapy following previous treatment.


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STAGE IIIB ANAL CANCER

Treatment will probably be radiation therapy plus chemotherapy followed by surgery. Depending on how much cancer remains following chemotherapy and radiation, surgery to remove the cancer or surgery to remove the anus and the lower part of the rectum (abdominoperineal resection) may be done. During surgery, the lymph nodes in the groin may be removed (lymph node dissection).