Anal Canal Cancer

Anal cancer is uncommon gastrointestinal cancer in India, but its incidence is high among immunocompromised individuals especially in HIV positives. It presents in elderly with bleeding per rectum and is more common among males. Diagnostic evaluation involves physical examination, pathological confirmation and imaging—CECT thorax, abdomen and pelvis. Multimodality approach is the standard of care with definitive chemoradiation being the preferred primary treatment, and surgery is reserved for salvage. Five-year survival rates of over 80% are achieved in early stages. In metastatic patients, chemotherapy options are limited.