Role of Radiation Treatment for Anal Canal Cancer

Radiation in combination with chemotherapy offers a high chance of cure and preservation of the anal sphincter. These tumours are very responsive to this treatment approach.

Indications

Patients with:

• squamous cell (and its variants) cancer of the anal canal
• squamous cell (and its variants) cancer of the perianal region

with a functioning anal sphincter, with or without spread to the regional lymph nodes are treated for cure. More extensive disease can respond to treatment

Benefits

Benefits of radiation include:

• local control of disease
• anal sphincter preservation
• palliation of metastatic or recurrent disease

How to Make a Referral

Patients with gastrointestinal cancer may be referred to one of the radiation oncologists in the Site Group either through the departmental referral process or by contacting one of the physicians directly.

This page was last updated August 30th, 2010 at 3:30pm.