Vaginal Cancer: The Basics
Vaginal cancer is cancer that starts in the vagina. It is caused by vaginal cells growing out of control. As the number of cells grows, they form a tumor.
Vaginal cancer that has spread from the vagina to another part of the body is called metastatic cancer.
Risks
Some risk factors are:
- If your mother took Diethylstilbestrol (DES) while pregnant with you. This medication is no longer used for pregnant women.
- HPV.
- Smoking.
- Having had cervical cancer.
- HIV.
Signs of Vaginal Cancer
Signs of vaginal cancer can be:
- Vaginal bleeding that is not a period.
- Bleeding after going through menopause.
- Pain during sex.
Diagnosis of Vaginal Cancer
If your healthcare providers think you may have vaginal cancer, tests will be ordered. Here are some of the tests:
- Pelvic exam and Pap test.
- Colposcopy.
Staging Vaginal Cancer
To guide treatment, vaginal cancer is "staged." This stage is based on:
- Where and how big your tumor is.
- If there are cancer cells in the lymph nodes.
- If there are cancer cells in other parts of the body.
Stages range from stage I (1, smallest, most confined tumors) to stage IV (4, tumors that have spread to other parts of the body, also called metastatic cancer). The stage and type of vaginal cancer will guide your treatment plan.
Treatment
Often, these treatments are used:
- Surgery can be used to remove the cancer.
- Radiation, the use of high energy x-rays to kill cancer cells, can be used. The types of radiation used are external beam radiation and brachytherapy. Sometimes they are both used.
- Chemotherapy, the use of medications to kill cancer cells, can be given.
This article is a basic guide to vaginal cancer. You can learn more about your type of vaginal cancer and treatment by using the links below.
Vaginal Cancer: Staging and Treatment