Sheela Rao, MBBS, MD, FRCP
Advances in the treatment of anal cancer including refined chemoradiotherapy regimens and the introduction of immunotherapy-based approaches have further improved outcomes, however a lack of focus on early detection has contributed to rising incidence rates, underscoring the importance of disease awareness among patients and health care providers, according to Sheela Rao, MBBS, MD, FRCP.
“[Bringing awareness to anal cancer] is important because to a certain extent, unlike other cancers, there is often a stigma associated with the diagnosis,” Rao said in an interview with OncLive® for Anal Cancer Awareness Day. “That can mean patients aren’t presenting early enough and that is a real tragedy. This is a curable cancer, as long as we detect it early, and most patients will not need…