Stage 2 anal cancer
Stage 2 anal cancer means the cancer is larger than 2cm and hasn't spread to any nearby tissue, lymph nodes or other organs. It is divided into 2 groups - 2A and 2B.
Anal cancer can start in different cell types. This information is for 
which is the most common type of anal cancer.
TNM staging
Doctors also use another staging system for anal cancer. They call this 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 nearby lymph nodes
- M describes whether the cancer has spread elsewhere in the body
The TNM system describes the cancer in detail. The number staging system puts these details together to give an overall stage.
Stage 2A
This means that the cancer is larger than 2cm but no bigger than 5cm. It hasn't spread to any nearby tissues, lymph nodes or other parts of the body.
Number stage 2A is the same as T2, N0, M0 in the TNM staging system.
Stage 2B
This means the cancer is larger than 5cm. It hasn't spread to any nearby tissues, lymph nodes or other parts of the body.
Number stage 2B is the same as T3, N0, M0 in the TNM staging system.
Treatment for stage 2 anal cancer
Knowing the stage of the cancer helps your doctor decide which treatment is best for you. Treatment can also depend on:
- where the cancer is in your anus
- your general health
Chemoradiotherapy
The main treatment for stage 2 anal cancer is chemoradiotherapy. This means you have both:
- chemotherapy
- radiotherapy
Chemotherapy uses anti cancer drugs to destroy cancer cells. These drugs are also called cytotoxic drugs. They circulate throughout the body in the bloodstream. Radiotherapy uses high energy waves similar to x-rays to kill cancer cells.
When you have finished your treatment, your doctor will check that the cancer has completely gone.
Unfortunately, chemoradiotherapy isn't suitable for everyone. Your doctor will talk to you about other options if they feel it isn't the best treatment for you.
If your doctor thinks there are still cancer cells
If your doctor thinks there is any cancer left after chemoradiotherapy, they take a sample of tissue (biopsy) from the area. If this contains cancer cells, they will talk to you about further treatment. This may include a large operation called an abdominoperineal resection (APR). Your surgeon and will make sure you are well enough to have this surgery.
