A 50 year old male, working as a hotel cook, has four dependent family members. He has been diagnosed with an early stage squamous cell cancer of anal canal. He has more than 60% chances of cure. Which of the following is the best treatment option?
A combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, so-called chemo radiation (Nigro) is the preferred initial therapy for all anal canal tumours. In such patients a combination of 5 flourouracil and mitomycin is given for approximately 1 week and chemotherapy is followed by radiotherapy, given over 3-7 weeks. Ref: Bailey and Love's Sho Practice of Surgery, 24th Edition, Pages 1269-1271.
Chemotherapy alone
Abdominoperineal resection
Combined surgery and radiotherapy
Combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy