Stage 4 anal cancer
Stage 4 anal cancer means the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver. The cancer can be any size and may or may not have spread to the lymph nodes. It is also called advanced anal cancer.
TNM staging
Doctors also use another staging system for anal cancer called the TNM staging system. It stands for tumour, node and metastasis:
- T describes the size of the tumour
- N describes whether there are any cancer cells in the lymph nodes
- M describes whether the cancer has spread to a different part of the body
In the TNM staging system, stage 4 anal cancer is the same as any T, any N, M1.
Treatment for stage 4 anal cancer
The stage of your cancer helps your doctor to decide which treatment you need. Treatment also depends on:
- your type of cancer (the type of cells the cancer started in)
- where the cancer is
- other health conditions
You might have one or more of the following treatments:
- chemotherapy
- immunotherapy as part of a clinical trial
The aim of treatment is to slow down the growth of the cancer.
If you’re not fit enough for the above treatments, your doctor might suggest best supportive care. This might include treatments such as surgery or radiotherapy where appropriate. These treatments will try to relieve any symptoms you have.
