Vaginal cancer is one of women’s cancers that is almost rare. This cancer is usually caused by the metastasis of other cancers. You can detect it in time with routine care of women. See a gynecologist for vaginal cancer treatment.
Vaginal cancer is one of the diseases of women that is not very common and you rarely see anyone suffering from it. Vaginal cancer usually doesn’t have any specific symptoms, and that’s why it progresses as far as it can. To ensure good health, get women’s screenings on time. To better manage this disease, you need to recognize it in time, which requires special measures. If you want to know this disease, its symptoms and treatments well, stay with us.
What is vaginal cancer?
The vagina is a channel that connects the external genitalia to the uterus. This channel has different cell layers. The vaginal canal may suffer from various diseases.
You definitely know that vaginal cancer is in the category of women’s cancer and men do not get this disease. Vaginal cancer is one of the rare diseases and when a person gets it, he usually does not feel its symptoms. This cancer occurs when the cells of the inner layers of the vagina begin to grow and multiply cancerous and the body cannot control them. You must know that cancer means malignant growth of cells. The cause of cancers is still unknown, but it may occur in people.
Vaginal cancer mostly occurs in the surface cells of the vaginal floor, which is a part of the female external reproductive system. On the other hand, the development of primary cancer in the vagina is usually rare, and most of the cancers that develop in the vagina come from somewhere else. One of the most important things that affect your health in relation to this disease is timely diagnosis.
How common is vaginal cancer?
Usually, 1 person out of every 100,000 women gets vaginal cancer. In fact, 1 to 2% of women’s cancers are vaginal cancer.
What are the symptoms of vaginal cancer?
You must be wondering what the symptoms of vaginal cancer are. If you want to know what are the symptoms of vaginal cancer, pay attention to this section. Vaginal cancer usually does not cause symptoms and progresses without symptoms. This is why women’s screenings are very important and the necessary investigations should be done for them. In most cases, when the gynecologist examines you and performs a pap smear test, he notices the symptoms of vaginal cancer in you. Vaginal cancer symptoms include the following:
Vaginal cancer has various symptoms, one of which is spotting and bleeding after intercourse.
Vaginal and uterine cancer symptoms can be a bit similar and include postmenopausal bleeding.
- Vaginal discharge is another symptom that you can experience in vaginal cancer.
- Pain during intercourse is another thing that you may experience.
- Sensation of a mass inside the vagina
- Painful urination
- constipation
- A feeling of passing stool even when the bowels are empty.
- pelvic pain
What are the early symptoms of vaginal cancer?
Now you know what are the symptoms of vaginal cancer. But you need to know its early signs in order to take timely treatment. Symptoms of vaginal cancer usually appear in its higher stages. Do you know what vaginal cancerous pimple is? Is this rash one of the early symptoms of vaginal cancer?
Early symptoms of vaginal cancer can include the following:
- spotting
- Abnormal pap smear
- Impaired physical examination
What kind of doctor should we see when faced with the symptoms of vaginal cancer?
If you see the above symptoms, whether you suspect that you have vaginal cancer or not, you should see a gynecologist. Visiting a gynecologist can be effective in timely diagnosis and treatment of this disease.
What is the cause of vaginal cancer?
The cause of vaginal cancer is still unknown. The exact cause of any cancer is not known because it is caused by changes in your cells and genetic material. People with this disease have altered cells. But why these cells change depends on factors such as genetic factors and other risk factors. We have mentioned these items below.
What are the symptoms of vaginal cancer?
Some of the things that can be effective in getting vaginal cancer include the following:
Age over 60: The older you are, the more likely you are to get this disease.
Genital warts: If you have genital warts, you are more likely to get vaginal cancer.
Cervical cancer: Those who have cervical cancer, or cervical dysplasia, are more likely to develop vaginal cancer.
Those who are exposed to artificial estrogen: Usually, people who are exposed to artificial estrogen are more likely to get vaginal cancer than others.
People who have had vulvar cancer.
How is vaginal cancer diagnosed?
Usually, when you see the symptoms and go to the gynecologist, you will be examined by various tests. But if you have visited a gynecologist for numerous checkups, you can diagnose this cancer in a good time. But the diagnosis of this disease is done by the following methods:
1. Pelvic examination
Abnormal changes in the body can usually be noticed through physical examination. You can also check changes inside the vagina using a speculum. Vaginal prominences are identified in this examination and any abnormal case is diagnosed.
2. Pap smear
The pap smear test examines cell changes in the vagina and cervix, and if these cells have become cancerous, this can be received in the test.
3. Colposcopy
Colposcopy is one of the other tests and samples that can be done to check for vaginal cancer. Abnormal cells in the cervix and vagina can be noticed.
4. biopsy
Usually, a biopsy is taken along with colposcopy, and tissues suspected of cancer can be removed and examined through it.
5. Imaging studies
To check the stage of cancer, the following images can be used:
- CT Scan
- MRI
- PET
- Cytoscopy: to check for cancer metastasis to the bladder
- Protoscopy: This examination shows that the cancer has metastasized to the small intestine and large intestine.
What is the treatment of vaginal cancer?
And the most important part of this article: is there a cure for vaginal cancer? Vaginal cancer and its treatment are among the most important things that are valuable for patients. Treatment of vaginal cancer depends on its severity, type of cancer and stage of development. Also, wanting to have a child and get pregnant after the treatment is also effective in the treatment process. The following methods are used to treat this cancer:
1. Vaginal cancer surgery
Vaginal surgery includes the following:
Tumor removal: In this method, only the tumor and tissues that may be infected with cancer are removed.
Vaginectomy: To use this method, we need to see how far the tumor has progressed. The entire vagina with lymph nodes or uterus and tubes may be removed.
Emptying the pelvic cavity: In this method, if vaginal cancer has metastasized to different parts, all the infected organs must be removed. These organs can include intestines, bladder and ovaries and other organs.
2. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy
These two cases can be done with or without surgery. In these two methods, the growth of cancer cells is stopped. Therefore, the cancer does not progress. In most cases, this cancer responds to radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
What are the types of vaginal cancer?
Vaginal cancer has different types and its names are based on the types of cells that are in the vagina. In the following, we will introduce the types of vaginal cancer:
Vaginal squamous cell carcinoma: 90% of vaginal cancers consist of squamous cell carcinoma. These cells cover the vaginal floor.
Adenocarcinoma: usually in people who are over 50 years old, this cancer is more common. Adenocarcinoma cancer occurs in the glandular cells of the vagina.
Melanoma: This cancer occurs in the cells of the vagina that give color to the vagina.
Sarcoma: Sarcoma cancer develops in the cells of the vaginal connective tissue. These cells are located in the connective tissue.
What are the complications of vaginal cancer?
One of the serious complications of this disease can be metastasis. Since vaginal cancer is not diagnosed immediately, it usually metastasizes to other parts and organs in the pelvis.
Is vaginal cancer fatal?
If this cancer is diagnosed in the early stages, usually 66% of patients survive up to 5 years later. But if it is not diagnosed on time, which is the case in most cases, 49% of people survive up to 5 years after starting treatment.
Can vaginal cancer be prevented?
There are ways you can reduce your chances of getting vaginal cancer as much as possible. These methods include the following:
Get checked regularly and do a pap smear: for this purpose, it is necessary to visit the gynecologist according to the order, so that if there is a problem, it can be diagnosed in the early stages.
Get the HPV vaccine: Those who develop genital warts are more likely to develop vaginal cancer.
Don’t smoke: Smoking increases the chances of getting cancers because it increases the chances of genetic mutations.
Conclusion and guide to see a doctor
Vaginal cancer is a relatively uncommon cancer among women. This type of cancer is usually caused by other cancers and does not appear by itself. However, there is a possibility that it can be created by itself. To diagnose vaginal cancer, the best and wisest solution is to perform routine gynecological care regularly and do not hesitate to perform tests such as HPV test and pap smear test. However, if you encounter any of the symptoms of vaginal cancer, including pain during intercourse, bleeding, spotting, a lump in the vagina, and other cases, see a gynecologist immediately.
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