Vaginal Cancer

20% of women with vaginal cancer have no symptoms at all. Common vaginal cancer symptoms include: 

• Bleeding on non-period days or after the menopause 
• Bleeding after sexual intercourse 
• Smelly or bloody vaginal discharge  
• Pain during the intercourse 
• A lump or growth in the vagina that is physically detected by your gynecologist 
• A vaginal itch that’s hard to be treated or relieved. 

Keep in mind that many of these symptoms can also be brought on by other disorders, such as an infection, so you should always see a doctor if you feel unwell. 

The exact cause of vaginal cancer is unknown. Cancer typically starts when normal cells undergo a genetic mutation that transforms them into abnormal cells. Some elements that could raise your risk of developing vaginal cancer are: 

• Age: Most vaginal cancer patients are older than 60 years old. 
• A human papillomavirus (HPV) infection: It might cause Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the vagina and the cervix. 
• Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia, or abnormal vaginal cells 
• Exposure to drugs used to prevent miscarriages, such as diethylstilbestrol (DES), which raises the risk of clear cell adenocarcinoma. 
• Smoking 
• Being young when you have your first encounter 
• HIV infection 

• Pelvic exam: a device known as a speculum is used to enlarge your vagina so that it is simpler to inspect your cervix and vaginal canal and to feel any abnormalities. 
• Pap smear: During this process, a brush and an instrument resembling a spatula are used to remove cells from your cervix. In a lab, these cells will be examined for indications of HPV or malignancy.  
• Colposcopy: Your vagina and cervix are examined using a lit instrument called a colposcope to check for abnormal cells. 
• Biopsy: This procedure frequently follows colposcopy and entails the removal of a tissue sample to be examined in a lab for the presence of cancer cells. 

Your lungs, liver, and bones are just a few of the remote bodily parts where vaginal cancer can spread (metastasize). Further screening techniques will be used to confirm metastasis. 

• Chest x-ray: To look at the bones and internal organs in the chest. 
• CT scan (CAT scan) & MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): Procedures that provide several fine-grained images of various body parts. 
• Positron emission tomography (PET scan): A method for locating cancerous tumor cells in the body. Since malignant tumor cells are more active and absorb more glucose than healthy cells do, they appear brighter in the image. 
• Cystoscopy: An examination of the bladder and urethra to search for any abnormalities. 
• Proctoscopy:  An examination of the rectum and anus to look for any abnormalities. 

The type of cancer, the stage of the malignancy, and your age all affect how you are treated for vaginal cancer. Your course of treatment may also be influenced by your age and desire to have kids. Precancerous cells are typically treated with laser surgery and topical therapies. Surgery, radiation treatment, and chemotherapy are frequently needed for invasive vaginal cancer. 

• Surgery: This course of treatment uses a variety of methods, including: 
• Wide local excision: Removal of the tumor and some of the surrounding healthy tissue. 
• Vaginectomy (partial or radical): Removal of the entire vagina or just a portion of it, depending on the size and location of the tumor. 
• Pelvic exenteration: This procedure involves removing several organs from the pelvis, including the bladder, uterus, cervix, vagina, ovaries, and adjacent lymph nodes. 
• Radiation therapy: Uses focused energy beams, such as X-rays, to kill or stop the division of cancer cells. Two types of radiation therapy exist: 
• External radiation therapy: The tumor is exposed to high-energy radiation beams from a machine outside the body. 
• Internal radiation therapy: Radioactive material is injected into or near the tumor using catheters or wires that are sealed and inserted into the vagina. 
• Chemotherapy: It is ineffective as a stand-alone treatment for vaginal cancer, but it can be used with radiation to make it more effective. The type and stage of the cancer being treated determine how the chemotherapy is administered. It could be used topically, regionally, or systemically. Fluorouracil, cisplatin, carboplatin, paclitaxel, topotecan, gemcitabine, bleomycin, Ifosfamide, and etoposide are only a few examples of the numerous chemotherapy medications. If you are receiving chemoradiotherapy for an early-stage malignancy, cisplatin can be your only medication. You might combine two or more chemotherapy medicines for advanced vaginal cancer.