Surgery for anal cancer
You see your surgeon and the anaesthetist who will be looking after you during the operation. They talk to you again about the surgery and anaesthetic and answer any questions you have. Your nurse prepares you to go for surgery.
When it is time, you go to the operating theatre for your operation.
The hospital staff will tell you what time you need to be there for your operation. You normally go into hospital on the day of your surgery. But sometimes you might go in the night before.
If the hospital has sent you a letter telling you the time and date of your admission, take that with you when.
Make sure you know where to go when you arrive. And if you are running late, call them to let them know.
Follow any instructions you were given at your pre operative assessment about how to prepare for your admission to hospital. This includes information on:
showering
not using certain hair and body products, including make up and nail varnish
what to take with you and what not to take
You may also need to follow information on having carbohydrate drinks before your operation.
Your nurse will go through a series of questions on a checklist to make sure you are ready for surgery. They ask you to:
tell them when you last had something to eat and drink
change into a hospital gown
put on a pair of anti embolism stockings - these help prevent blood clots
take off any jewellery - you may be able to keep a wedding ring on
remove contact lenses if you have them
wear a hospital identification band - this is normally on your wrist
If you have false teeth you can usually keep them in until you get to the anaesthetic room.
For some types of surgery, your nurse asks if they can remove the hair around the operation area. This is to help prevent an infection. They might remove the hair on the ward before you go for your operation. Or when you’re in the operating theatre.
Before you go for surgery you will see members of your health care team again. You have a chance to ask them any questions you have or explain if you have any concerns. You normally see:
They talk through the operation and consent form again with you.
They ask you questions about your health and explain about the type of anaesthetic they are going to give you. They also explain what pain killers you are going to have afterwards.
Your anaesthetist may also ask you to have some medicine before you go for your operation. This can include medicine to help you relax (premed) or to help stop you feeling sick after the operation.
If you are having a as part of your operation, you might see your stoma nurse again. They draw on your tummy (abdomen) to show your surgeon where they think is best for your stoma.
You have an anaesthetic so that you can’t feel anything during the operation. You have this in the anaesthetic room or the operating theatre.
There are different types of anaesthetic. These include:
local anaesthetic to numb a small area
regional anaesthetic to numb a large area or part of your body – this includes epidural and spinal anaesthetic
general anaesthetic so you are asleep during the operation
medicine to make you relax – this is called sedation
You might have more than one type of anaesthetic for your operation.
Your anaesthetist puts a small tube (cannula) into a vein in your arm. You have any fluids and medicines you need through the cannula. This includes general anaesthetic and sedation.
Before your operation your anaesthetist might put a small tube through the skin of your back. It goes into the fluid around your spinal cord. They can attach a pump to this tube to give you pain medicines during and after the operation.
Read more about what happens after anal cancer surgery
We have more information on what happens on the day of cancer surgery, including:
getting ready for your operation
going to the operating theatre
how you have the different types of anaesthetic
Find out more about what happens on the day of cancer surgery
Last reviewed: 11 Sept 2025
Next review due: 11 Sept 2028
Surgery is the main treatment for some cancers. You may also have it for other reasons. But what happens before, during and after surgery, normally depends on the type of cancer and your general health.
Your nurse makes sure you are ready for surgery. And you see your surgeon and anaesthetist. When it is time, you go to the operating theatre.
You may need surgery if anal cancer comes back. Or hasn't all gone after chemoradiotherapy. Some people have surgery as the main treatment for stage 1 cancer in the anal margin.
What happens after surgery depends on the type of operation you have and how well you recover. You have one or more wounds. And normally have a number of tubes and drains in your body for a short while.
Treatments include radiotherapy with chemotherapy (chemoradiotherapy) and surgery. For advanced cancer you might have chemotherapy or radiotherapy on their own.
Anal cancer is cancer that starts in the anus. The anus is also called the anal canal.
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