Vaginal Cancer: Symptoms, Risk Factors, Treatment

Vaginal cancer is a rare type of cancer that localizes in the vagina. If diagnosed in the first stage, it is curable. Dr. . gynecologist Erna Stoian explains to the CSID which are the signs of the disease, how it can be diagnosed and which can be the treatment. Symptoms of vaginal cancer In the early stages, vaginal cancer may show no symptoms.

As some progresses, some seeds may appear, such as: Abnormal vaginal bleeding. A swelling or a tumor in the vagina. Polakiuria vaginal secretion (abnormal increase in micturition). Pelvic pain. Constipation.

Types of Vaginal Cancer Squamous cell vaginal carcinoma is the most common type of cancer and occurs in squamous tissue. This type of cancer spreads slowly. Sometimes it moves to other organs, such as the liver or lungs, or to the bones. Older women are most likely to get this form of illness. Nearly half of the cases occur at the age of 60 and over.

Vaginal adenocarcinoma occurs in the glandular tissue. It spreads to the lymph nodes, the groin area and the lungs. Vaginal melanoma occurs in vaginal melanocytes. Vaginal sarcoma is located in the connective tissue or muscle of the vagina. Risk Factors Causes of vaginal cancer are not well known, but there are a number of factors that increase the risk of developing: Old age.

The risk of vaginal cancer increases with age, most cancers being diagnosed after 60 years. The presence of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia that is caused by HPV. It causes cervical, vaginal and vulvar cancer. There are vaccines that can protect you from certain strains of HPV. Approximately nine of every ten cases of vaginal cancer are HPV-related.

This is the most common sexually transmitted infection. Exposure to diethylstilbestrol. Dangers lie on women whose mothers took a hormone called diethylstilbestrol in the first months of pregnancy. Between 1938 and 1971, doctors have often prescribed this medicine to pregnant women to prevent spontaneous abortion and other problems. They stopped using the medicine in 1971.

Multiple sexual partners. Low age at the start of sexual life. Smoking. HIV infection. Disease Complications Vaginal cancer can give remote metastasis to the lungs, liver or bones.

Diagnostic methods Often, the disease does not give any warning signs. Your doctor can detect it during a routine or routine Pap test. If you have sex pain, it does not mean you have vaginal cancer. It could be an infection, but it's important to check it out. If a pelvic exam or Pap smear shows that there may be cancer, the doctor may want to look more closely, and then he can resort to colposcopy.

To check your vagina and cervix, it will use a flexible instrument with a room, a colposcope. It could also harvest samples from tissue. A specialist will study the samples under a microscope. This is called biopsy. If you are diagnosed with cancer, your doctor will choose a treatment based on several factors: the type of cancer, stage, presence in other organs, if you have a hysterectomy, etc.

. Most likely, the doctor may recommend: Surgical treatment. This is the most common treatment. Your doctor may use a laser to remove affected tissue. In some cases, it may be necessary to remove the vagina or a part of it.

A hysterectomy will be performed. This is when the uterus is removed. Sometimes the cervix or other organs should be removed. Many women can have a normal life after surgery. Sex may increase the chance of infection and may cause bleeding at the surgical site.

Radiation therapy. This treatment is based on high-power X-rays. The doctor may also place a radioactive source inside or near the tumor. Pelvic pelvic treatments can affect the ovaries. They reduce estrogen production, which results in symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness.

This type of therapy can irritate healthy tissues. Chemotherapy kills or stops the growth of cancer cells with drugs. Side effects such as nausea, hair loss and changes in body weight can not be overlooked. Can vaginal cancer be prevented? . HPV vaccination.

Avoiding or quitting smoking. Also, do not have sex with more partners. Do not have sex with someone who has more than one partner. She uses condom during sex. Often, vaginal cancer can be cured if detected and treated early.

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