RADIATION THERAPY FOR ANAL CANCER

Course overview

CANCERS OF THE ANAL CANAL ARE RARE, COMPRISING APPROXIMATELY 10% OF MALIGNANCIES IN THE ANORECTAL REGION, ALTHOUGH ITS INCIDENCE HAS BEEN INCREASING OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES. WHILE THE TRADITIONAL APPROACH TO TREATMENT WAS WITH ABDOMINOPERINEAL RESECTION (APR), THIS HAS EVOLVED IN THE MODERN ERA TO CONCURRENT CHEMORADIATION AS ORGAN-PRESERVING TREATMENT. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE ROLE OF RADIATION THERAPY FOR ANAL CANCER AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THESE PATIENTS.