[Cita1]

I have tumor that blocked to my anus and growing fast, it about 1/2 inches in diameter outside. Why my doctor tells me that my primary treatment is chemoterapy not radiation or surgery?

[zrepmd]

Chemotherapy and radiation concurrently are standard therapy (not surgery) for anal cancer. If you have rectal cancer instead, usual standards of care would be either A) chemotherapy AND radiation concurrently before surgery, then chemo only after surgery, OR B) Surgery first, followed by chemotherapy AND radiation. If you are not sure you are on the right track, then seek a second opinion ASAP.God bless, best wishesAddendum: I see from another post that you ask about metastases. That is an important point to mention in the history. If you have metastatic disease, then chemotherapy only is a reasonable option.

[Loz A]

Are they going to do surgery? Is it resectable? Sometimes they will have you do chemo before surgery in order to shrink the tumor and make it easier to remove. Sometimes they do chemo then surgery then chemo again or radiation. Chemo therapy will work faster than radiation also, so if its a fast growing tumor they may be thinking of chemically slowing it. They are more than likely going to 5FU (Fluoruracil) and oxaliplatin which are great drugs for rectal cancer. What stage are you? If you’re a stage 4 they can't do radiation for treatment since the disease has spread beyond a"radiation field". Radiation has to be directed to a specific area of the body and if the cancer has spread to other areas of the body (metastases) then radiation may not be used and chemo will be the primary treatment. They usually consider radiation in the earlier stages of rectal cancer. Chemotherapy drugs used today are very good. I'm very sorry to hear about your diagnosis, stay positive and accept as much support from friends and family as possible. God bless.