Anal Cancer Archive Questions

Below are Dr. Hausner’s answers to Anal Cancer questions
received through the Ask the Expert feature.

This content is provided for informational purposes only, and is not intended
to be a substitute for individual medical advice in diagnosing or treating a
health problem. Please consult with your physician about your specific health
care concerns.



Now displaying records 1 to 5 of 5.

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Q : 1 09/01/2009	Is it possible to complete chemo and radition for anal cancer and within a week have new growth in the same spot? I thought chemo stays in your body for 8 weeks. It would be very unlikely for an anal cancer to appear in the radiation field that soon. It usually takes weeks for the anal cancer to respond to chemotherapy and radiation. What has appeared might be an ulcer or condylomata, which represent a papilloma virus infection or just hemorrhoids. Reappearance of the cancer would be serious and might need surgery to resolve.
Q : 2 01/15/2009	My brother was diagnosed with Stage 2 and Stage 3 anal cancer. He previously had radiation for testicular cancer and was therefore told that radiation is not an option for treatment of his anal cancer. He is in good health and physically fit. What other treatment options does he have? He needs to have surgery followed by chemotherapy and I would encourage him to get treated as soon as possible. If he chooses, he can self refer to our cancer center. The role of radiation could be reconsidered, if documentation from his original radiation is available for our review. I would be happy to see him in consult and arrange the next steps.
Q : 3 10/02/2008	I'm a 42 year-old male, HIV postive, and I have re-current anal cancer. I am overall healthy and have a good immune system. I underwent radiation and chemo in 02/07 and after the local surgery removal of the local areal cancer (it was not on the anus), it has reappeared in the same area. I have looked at treatment options (my doctors have not suggested one yet) and all indications are of a total removal of the anus/rectom (collostomy). I am interested in a second opinion from someone with significant experience in anal cancer as well as any other treatment possibilities. This is a viral disease caused by a human papilloma virus (HPV). Immunization which is given to girls to prevent cervical cancer would have prevented it. The vaccine is available only in the last years and would have, most likely, no effect if given to you. Taking your HIV medications is extremely important, since your immune system might be able to fight the cancer and the virus. There are a few reports that an antiviral drug called cidofovir if given intravenously over many weeks might make the cancer go away. The standard of care is the major surgery you described above. Do not wait to long, since the cancer might spread. Discuss with your surgeon what effect is surgery going to have on your sexual functions. Avoid intimate unprotected contact with persons who are infected with the HPV and have genital warts.
Q : 4 06/10/2008	I had anal cancer. It didn't spread to my lymph nodes. The tumor however was 2cm. Can you tell me what stage this was? I was treated for anal fissures for 7 months before diagnosis. I even underwent Botox injections for the anal fissures. I never had a biopsy until the 2nd botox injection was scheduled, and by this time I could was having trouble walking, I was in so much pain. I had been bleeding since the first month, and the pain was bad then as well. Your cancer was most likely a T1 (up to 2 cm in diameter) N0 (no lymphnodes)and M0 (no distant metastases). This is stage I. Most anal cancer can be cured by concurrent chemotherapy and radiation, after which the cancer goes away slowly, over one year. If you get any new pain, bleeding or other signs of disease, immediately alert your physician.
Q : 5 04/16/2008	I am 31, female, a smoker & drinker, not pregnant, no medical history, on birth control pills & Duromine (a weight control pill). On mornings after drinking, I bleed when moving bowels, bright red blood and mucus. What might be causing this? You might have colon or rectal cancer. Unfortunately, your young age is not a full protection against it. Alternatively and more likely, you might have another disease, like inflammatory bowel disease, hemorrhoids, a sexualy transmitted disease or any of many other possibilities. ou need to visit a gastroenterologist and have an endoscopy.

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