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Vaginal cancer is a rare form of cancer that develops in the muscle tube connecting the uterus to the outer genitalia, or vagina. The vagina, also known as the birth canal, is lined with cells, and these cells are where vaginal cancer most frequently develops. The likelihood of a cure is highest when vaginal cancer is discovered in its early stages. The treatment for vaginal cancer that has spread outside of the vagina is substantially more challenging. We will discuss vaginal cancer treatment and causes in this blog and all its challenges.
Types of Vaginal Cancer
Vaginal cancer comes in various forms. The following are the common vaginal cancers:
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Squamous Cell Carcinoma
The flat cells, or squamous cells, that line the vagina are where squamous cell cancer originates. The most typical kind of vaginal cancer is squamous cell carcinoma. It represents around 90% of all instances.
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Adenocarcinoma
This type of vaginal cancer is found originally in the gland cells of the vagina and commonly affects the younger age group. There is a special variety of vaginal cancer, clear-cell adenocarcinoma. This happens in women who were exposed to a medication diethylstilbestrol (DES) while they were still within their mother’s womb. Paradoxically, this was a medicine used to treat miscarriages till the late 1970s. Now it is banned.
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Melanoma
It usually starts within the cells that provide colour to the skin neighbouring vagina (melanocytes). Vaginal melanomas are very rare.
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Sarcoma
It develops within the connective tissue and muscle tissue that make up the vaginal wall. Vaginal sarcomas are uncommon, just as are vaginal melanomas. Sarcomas come in a variety of forms. The most frequent type is rhabdomyosarcoma, which primarily affects children. While leiomyosarcoma is a disease of middle-aged women.
How Common is Vaginal Cancer?
True vaginal cancers are rare. Vaginal cancer makes up about 2-3% of all gynaecological cancers. The vagina is commonly affected by cancer from other neighbouring organs. These are not primary vaginal cancers.
Who Develops Vaginal Cancer?
The risk of developing vaginal cancer rises if:
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The woman is over 60 years old.
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If the woman develops persistent human papillomavirus (HPV). These infections do not give symptoms.
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The individual is diagnosed with vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN).
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The individual has experienced cervical dysplasia or malignancy.
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Women who came into contact with diethylstilbestrol (DES).
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Women with smoking habits.
Symptoms of Vaginal Cancer
Early vaginal cancer may not show any symptoms at all. Vaginal cancer may manifest as the following signs and symptoms as it progresses:
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Unusual bleeding from the vagina.
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Watery or unpleasant vaginal discharge.
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Pain in the pelvis.
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Pain during sexual activity.
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Difficulty in urinating.
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Feeling the need to urinate while having an empty stomach.
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More urination than usual.
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Constipation.
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A lump in the vagina.
Cause Of Vaginal Cancer
What specifically causes vaginal cancer is unknown to researchers according to the specialist at the best gynecologist hospital in Kolkata. Vaginal cancer and high-risk HPV strains are likely linked, just as they are with cervical cancer. It is considered HPV vaccines will also protect against vaginal cancers.
Transmission Of Vaginal Cancer
Cancer cells in the vagina behave like all cancer cells. As the cells grow uncontrollably, tumours develop. These tumours may invade adjacent healthy tissue and metastasize (spread to other parts of your body).
Diagnosis and Treatment
The following tests and procedures are used for the diagnosis of vaginal cancer:
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Pelvic exam
The healthcare professional will visually examine the vulva and feel for any anomalies by inserting two fingers within the vagina. The vagina is spacious. Sometimes the two walls can be temporarily gently separated using a device known as a speculum, making it simpler to see the cervix and vaginal canal.
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Pap Smear
The healthcare professional will scrape cells from the cervix while holding the vagina open with a speculum and a spatula-like tool. For indications of malignancy or HPV, these cells will be examined in a lab. It takes a few seconds to take a smear.
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Colposcopy
The doctor will examine the vagina and cervix using lighted equipment called a colposcope or vaginoscope to check for abnormal cells.
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Biopsy
It is frequently performed by colposcopy. To check for cancer cells, the healthcare professional will collect a pinch of tissue sample. With friendly advanced local anaesthesia, it is painless. The treatment is determined by the type of cancer, the stage of the cancer, and the patient's age. Precancerous cells are typically treated with removal, laser surgery and topical therapies. Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are frequently needed to treat invasive vaginal cancer. There are several therapies that you might get.
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Surgery
- Wide Local Excision
The tumour and some of the surrounding healthy tissue are removed.
- Vaginectomy (Partial or Radical)
Depending on the size and location of the tumour, the doctor may remove all or some parts of the vagina. The doctor may advise having the lymph nodes, uterus, and cervix removed (lymph node dissection), depending on how far the cancer has spread (hysterectomy).
- Pelvic Exenteration
This is needed in advanced cases. This procedure removes several organs, including the bladder, uterus, cervix, vagina, ovaries, and adjacent lymph nodes from the pelvis. The gynaecologist in Kolkata will create an opening in the abdomen for urination and bowel movement (called a stoma or ostomy bag). This surgery is recommended if someone has cancer that keeps coming back.
- Radiation Therapy
Radiation kills cancer cells or prevents them from proliferating by using focused energy beams, like X-rays.
- External Radiation Therapy
High-energy radiation beams are focused on the tumour by an external machine.
- Internal Radiation Therapy
Radioactive materials are inserted into or close to the tumour in the vagina using catheters or sealed wires. These give short doses of radiation and are removed after each dose.
- Chemotherapy
In this, cancer cells are killed using medications.
- Clinical Trials
The world is advancing quickly to find novel cancer treatments. Without the help of patients, this cannot be achieved. The doctor might offer the patient to enrol in a clinical study to check out innovative cancer treatments.
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