Vaginal Cancer

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Cancer of the vagina, a rare cancer accounting for about two to three percent of female reproductive cancers, is a disease in which malignant cells are found in the tissues of the vagina. It was estimated that in the year 2008, about 2,210 new cases of vaginal cancer would be diagnosed in the U.S. and 760 women would die of this cancer.

Risk Factors
Common factors that may increase a women’s chance of developing vaginal cancer are age (over two thirds of women are 60 years old or older during diagnosis), smoking, infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), HIV infection and having cervical cancer. Other risk factors include:

  • Exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) as a fetus (mother took DES during pregnancy)

  • Vaginal adenosis

  • Vaginal irritation or uterine prolapse

  • Previous cervical dysplasia or cancer

Prevention
To prevent vaginal cancer, women should avoid the identified risk factors, such as smoking, and detect pre-cancers through regular Pap tests. To reduce the risk of infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), which may increase a woman's chance of developing vaginal cancer, women should delay sex, wear condoms, avoid sex with many persons or with persons who have had multiple partners.

Symptoms
The following are the most common symptoms of vaginal cancer:

  • Abnormal vaginal bleeding (often after intercourse)
  • Abnormal vaginal discharge
  • A mass that can be felt
  • Pain during intercourse
  • Painful urination, constipation and continuous pelvic pain are symptoms of advanced vaginal cancer.

Diagnosis
Diagnosis for vaginal cancer can be made with a pelvic examination of the vagina, Pap test, biopsy and colposcopy.

Treatment
Radiation therapy is the preferred method of treatment for most cancers of the vagina. Surgery in the form of laser surgery or local excision can remove pre-cancerous cells. Radical vaginectomy or radical hysterectomy with removal of the upper vagina and removal of lymph nodes is reserved for upper vaginal cancers. Chemotherapy is only used in advanced cases in combination with radiation therapy or for recurrent disease.

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