Radiation plus chemotherapy instead of surgery has improved the quality of life in anal cancer patients. This treatment has helped patients to maintain their normal bowel function and their chances of cure.
In the United States, the 5-year survival rate of localized cancers that are treated is more than 80%, whereas of those spread to distant organs is 30%.
Prevention of Anal Cancer - There is no fool-proof way to avoid the cancer completely, however if exposure to HPV and HIV virus is reduced the likelihood of developing this cancer comes down remarkably. A vaccine against HPV virus is also likely to help in preventing this cancer. A 2007 study in Lancet reported that HPV vaccine was related to a significant reduction in the likelihood of premalignant lesions of the vulva, cervix, and anus.