# Why is chemoradiation the main treatment for anal cancer?

Source: https://oncologyistanbul.com/answers/why-is-chemoradiation-the-main-treatment-for-anal-cancer
Last updated: 2026-07-21

Because it can cure most anal squamous cell cancers while keeping the anal sphincter intact and avoiding a permanent colostomy. According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, combining chemotherapy — typically fluorouracil plus mitomycin — with radiation is the standard first treatment for anal cancer, so surgery such as abdominoperineal resection is held in reserve for very small tumors or for disease that persists after chemoradiation. This is general information, not a treatment recommendation. A free case review of your own reports shows what your specific situation supports, and you can verify a hospital's state authorization yourself.

## Verify at
- [NCI — Anal Cancer Treatment](https://www.cancer.gov/types/anal/patient/anal-treatment-pdq) — National Cancer Institute (NCI) (checked 2026-07-21)

Related: [Anal cancer treatment in Turkey](https://oncologyistanbul.com/anal-cancer-treatment-turkey)