Anal Cancer

Overview

Anal cancer accounts for 1.6% of all GI malignancies in the US. Its incidence increases with age; the peak is in the sixth and seventh decades. HPV has been liked to this disease, as has renal transplant, smokers, and patients with HIV infection. Symptoms include pain, mass, constipation, diarrhea, and itching, however 25% of cases are asymptomatic. Procedures for diagnosis include physical exam, anoscopy, proctoscopy, and transrectal ultrasound. A biopsy is required. Staging includes imaging. Women should have a gynecologic exam screening for HPV. Both men and women should be checked for HIV.

Treatment Options

Treatment can include surgery, combined chemotherapy and radiation or chemotherapy alone. Chemotherapy agents used include 5-FU, mitomycin, and cisplatin.

Anal Cancer Specialists

Dr. Raymond Tsao

Dr. Raymond Tsao completed his fellowship in Hematology & Medical Oncology at The Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

He is board certified in Medical Oncology, Hematology, and Internal Medicine.

Dr. Tsao is currently seeing patients with all types of cancer, with a focus on Gastrointestinal Malignancies (including esophageal, stomach, colorectal, and pancreatic cancer). Click here to learn more about Dr. Raymond Tsao.

Dina Giovanetti

Dina Giovanetti received her BSN in 1994 and her MSN in 2002 from Florida Atlantic University. She is Board Certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner and has practiced in Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine for most of her career before joining Cancer Center of South Florida and practicing Oncology. Click here to learn more about Dina Giovanetti.