There are different types of treatment for anal cancer. Various factors like location, type and the stage of the tumor are considered while giving treatment. Following are the anal cancer treatments:

1. Treatment by radiation therapy: High- energy X-rays or other types of radiation are used in this type of treatment of anal cancer to destroy cancer cells. Two types of radiation therapy are: In external beam radiation therapy, machines are used from outside the body to send radiation towards the cancer. In internal radiation therapy, radioactive substances are used which are sealed in needles, wires or catheters that are placed directly near the cancer. This treatment depends upon the type and stage of the cancer.

2. Chemotherapy: Drugs are used in this type of anal cancer treatment. These drugs stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing them or stopping them from dividing. Chemotherapy is given either by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle. The drug enters into the bloodstream and reaches cancer cells throughout the body. In regional chemotherapy, the drug mainly affects that area where the drug is placed directly into the spinal column, an organ or a cavity of the body like abdomen. Anal cancer treatment by chemotherapy depends on the stage and type of anal cancer.

Combining radiation therapy with chemotherapy to treat anal cancer has shown better results. Both the treatments are given during the same time period. If the cancer dos not go away even after giving these two treatments, then surgery is done to remove whatever is left.

3. Surgery: Anal cancer treatment by resection, a surgical process in which the tumor is cut from the anus along with some of the healthy tissue around it. Local resection is used if the cancer is small and has not spread. Tumors that develop in the lower part of the anus could be removed by local resection.

Abdominoperineal resection: In this type anal cancer treatment the anus, the rectum and part of the sigmoid colon are removed by an incision made in the abdomen. The end of the intestine is sewn to an opening called stoma called as colostomy, so that the waste of the body could be collected in a disposable bag outside the body. Lymph nodes containing cancer might also be removed during this operation.

4. Radiosensitizers are drugs that make tumor cells sensitive to radiation therapy. Tumor cells are killed if radiosensitizers are combined and used with radiation therapy.

5. Clinical trails: Sometimes, clinical trails are the best treatment choice for most of the patients. Clinical trails are done to see whether new cancer treatments are safe and effective or better than the standard treatment. Patients may receive the standard treatment and also most likely to receive a new treatment.

6. Treatment for recurrent anal cancer: If the cancer returns in the anus or local lymph nodes after the treatment, then anal cancer treatment is given by two methods: For e.g., radiation therapy and chemotherapy if a patient first had surgery, or chemotherapy or surgery if a patient first had radiation therapy. If the cancer appears in liver or lung, then the treatment is given by chemotherapy.