There are three primary methods of treating anal cancer: radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery.
Radiation Therapy. Radiation therapy uses certain types of high-energy beams of radiation to shrink tumors or eliminate cancer cells. Radiation therapy works by damaging a cancer cell's DNA, making it unable to multiply. Although radiation therapy can damage nearby healthy cells, cancer cells are highly sensitive to radiation and typically die when treated. Healthy cells that are damaged during radiation are resilient and are often able to fully recover.
Two primary types of radiation therapy are external beam radiation therapy and internal beam radiation, also called "brachytherapy." External beam radiation is much more common than internal beam radiation in treating anal cancer.
Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy may be prescribed to treat anal cancer in conjunction with radiation therapy treatments. Chemotherapy drugs work by eliminating rapidly multiplying cancer cells, however, there are other healthy cells in the body that multiply just as quickly, such as hair follicle cells. Unfortunately, many chemotherapy drugs may not be able to discern the two, attacking healthy cells and causing side effects, such as hair loss.
Surgery. Surgery to remove the tumor is the least common method of treating anal cancer but is still an option for some. When surgery is recommended, it is often done in conjunction with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy.
source : cancer.about.com
Radiation Therapy. Radiation therapy uses certain types of high-energy beams of radiation to shrink tumors or eliminate cancer cells. Radiation therapy works by damaging a cancer cell's DNA, making it unable to multiply. Although radiation therapy can damage nearby healthy cells, cancer cells are highly sensitive to radiation and typically die when treated. Healthy cells that are damaged during radiation are resilient and are often able to fully recover.
Two primary types of radiation therapy are external beam radiation therapy and internal beam radiation, also called "brachytherapy." External beam radiation is much more common than internal beam radiation in treating anal cancer.
Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy may be prescribed to treat anal cancer in conjunction with radiation therapy treatments. Chemotherapy drugs work by eliminating rapidly multiplying cancer cells, however, there are other healthy cells in the body that multiply just as quickly, such as hair follicle cells. Unfortunately, many chemotherapy drugs may not be able to discern the two, attacking healthy cells and causing side effects, such as hair loss.
Surgery. Surgery to remove the tumor is the least common method of treating anal cancer but is still an option for some. When surgery is recommended, it is often done in conjunction with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy.
source : cancer.about.com
