Vaginal cancer is a rare type of cancer that forms in the vaginal tissue in women. Not to be confused with the vulva, the vagina is the narrow, elastic canal that extends from the cervix to the outside of the body. It is about 2 to 4 inches long. It is also referred to as the birth canal. Causes and Risk Factors of Vaginal CancerAlthough researchers cannot pinpoint exactly what causes vaginal cancer, they have identified several known risk factors for the disease. A risk factor is something that increases the likelihood that you may develop a disease, but is not a guarantee you will get it. Risk factors for vaginal cancer include:
  • HPV infection
  • DES exposure (synthetic estrogen given to women before 1971 during pregnancy to prevent miscarriage, but ultimately causing health risks to the expectant mother and daughters/son they carried)
  • diagnosed with cervical cancer
  • use of a vaginal pessary
  • smoking
  • HIV/AIDS infection
Vaginal Cancer SymptomsIn the early stages, vaginal cancer does not usually causes any noticeable symptoms. As the disease progresses, symptoms begin to appear. Symptoms of vaginal cancer include abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge, pelvic pain, a lump, bump, or lesion in the vagina, and pain during sexual intercourse.

These symptoms are not exclusive to vaginal cancer; in fact, they are symptoms of other, less serious conditions. Diagnosing Vaginal CancerIf vaginal cancer is suspected, further evaluation is necessary to confirm the absence or presence of cancer. Findings from a pelvic exam and/or Pap smear are usually the first evaluations to raise red flags.

A colposcopy may then be done to allow the doctor to view the cervix and vaginal walls more closely. A colposcopy utilizes a microscope-like instrument called a colposcope to look for abnormalities. During the colposcopy, a vaginal biopsy may be done on any suspicious areas. A biopsy involves removing a sample of tissue to be studied under a microscope. A vaginal biopsy is done very quickly and usually does not require an anesthetic.

If the biopsy confirms cancer, the stage of the disease will be determined. Staging refers to a categorization of how far the cancer has spread to nearby tissues. If advanced cancer is suspected, further medical testing may be necessary to determine the stage of the cancer. Treatment of Vaginal CancerYour treatment plan depends on the type of vaginal cancer, stage, and general health. The primary treatment methods for vaginal cancer are surgery and radiation therapy.

Vaginal cancer surgery varies among diagnosed women. The type of surgery chosen weighs heavily on the size and stage of the tumor. Smaller, early stage vaginal cancer may only require laser or wide local excision surgery to remove cancerous tissue, while more more advanced cases may require more aggressive surgical therapy, like a radical vaginectomy (surgical removal of part or all of the vagina). This may be in addition to a radical hysterectomy and lyphadenectomy (removal of nearby lymph nodes).