Vaginal Cancer Symptoms: Causes and Effective Treatments

Comprehensive Guide to Vaginal Cancer: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

Though rare, vaginal cancer is a significant condition that impacts vaginal tissues and needs immediate attention for treatment. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), it comprises approximately 2% of all cancers traceable to the area of the female genital system. 

To make informed health-related decisions, knowing the symptoms, causes, and treatment options for vaginal cancer can assist individuals. 

Let's discuss the common vaginal cancer symptoms, what can cause the illness, and staging so that early detection and treatment can be performed.

What is Vaginal Cancer?

Vaginal cancer arises in the vaginal walls (also known as the muscular canal), and it is an intramural type of cancer. The uterus connects with the outer world through the muscular canal. Usually, vaginal cancer is more common in older women. It can be an issue for younger age groups as well and mostly appears as adenocarcinoma.

Sometimes, the initial stages of vaginal cancer can be asymptomatic, making the diagnosis imperative. A few risk factors are smoking, human papillomavirus (HPV), or previous cervical cancer treatment as well.

It is essential to understand the difference between vaginal cancer symptoms and other gynecological issues.

Note: An estimated total of 117 new cases of vaginal cancer are projected in 2024. The median age at diagnosis is 66 years.

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What are the Symptoms of Vaginal Cancer?

The vaginal cancer symptoms can vary with the stage at which the patient is diagnosed with the disease. Sometimes, there may not be any apparent symptoms during its early stages, but as the condition progresses, other evident symptoms tend to emerge. Other symptoms of vaginal cancer include:

1. Unusual Vaginal Bleeding

It is one of the most common symptoms. Unexplained vaginal bleeding that occurs after menopause or bleeding during intercourse can be indicative of vaginal cancer.

2. Vaginal Discharge

Any unusual foul-smelling vaginal discharge which is not responsive to standard treatments can be a sign of vaginal cancer. This draining may be blood-tinged and watery than usual.

3. Pelvic Pain

This is one of the most common vaginal cancer symptoms. Vaginal cancer can invade structures within the pelvis as it progresses and can lead to chronic pelvic pain from tumor growth or from compressing a pelvic organ such as bladder, rectum, or uterus.

4. Lumps in the Vaginal Area

Lumps or masses in the vaginal area may be indicative of some type of tumor or growth and are often characteristic of vaginal cancer.

5. Urinary Symptoms

The advanced stage of vaginal cancer can affect organs surrounding the vagina, such as the bladder, requiring frequent urination or pain upon urination or the presence of blood in the urine.

6. Pain During Sex

Sexual activities may be painful due to irritation and inflammation of the tissues if the tumor involves any tissue in the vagina or through direct invasion of nerves that make penetration painful.

7. Leg Swelling

If the cancer spreads or blocks lymphatic drainage fluid, it can accumulate within the lower limbs (lymphedema), causing swelling within the legs, as lymph fluid can't adequately drain from the legs.

Often, patients can face some infections, benign tumors, or early-stage cervical cancer symptoms, thus making one need to see a doctor in the first place.

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Causes of Vaginal Cancer

Even though researchers are still discovering the exact causes of vaginal cancer, several factors have been identified that increase the risk for this disease. These include: 

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection

The most identified risk factor for vaginal cancer is consistent infection with certain high-risk strains of HPV. HPV is also associated with other gynecological cancers, including cervical and vulvar cancer. Since the primary cause of these cancers is HPV infection, vaccination against this virus has been shown to reduce the incidences of certain of these cancers.

Age

Vaginal cancers are prevalent among older women aged 60 years and above. Risk increases with advancing age, probably due to an increased amount of genetic mutations.

Previous Cancer Treatments

Radiation to the cervix or uterus heightens the risk of vaginal cancer among women who have been exposed to it. Since radiation can cause cell changes to the vaginal cells, it makes them vulnerable to developing cancer sometime later in life.

Smoking

Smoking tobacco is one of the major risks that can cause various forms of cancer, including vaginal cancer. The smoking habit not only weakens the immune system but also makes human bodies unable to combat abnormal cell formation.

Weakened Immune System

A weakened immune system can be present from infections like HIV/AIDS or immunosuppressive treatments, which will make it harder to find abnormal cells and fight them in the body, thereby increasing the risk of occurrence of cancers.

DES Exposure

Diethylstilbestrol is a synthetic estrogen that was widely prescribed to pregnant women from the 1940s through the 1970s. The daughters of women exposed to DES in utero have an increased risk of developing vaginal cancer due to in utero exposure to this hormone.

Family History of Cancer

A family history of cancer, especially gynecologic cancers, may predispose someone to vaginal cancer since the inherited genetic mutations would increase the possibility of the formation of cancerous growths within reproductive organs.

Types of Vaginal Cancer

Vaginal Cancer Staging

Vaginal cancer staging is also a step in determining a prognosis and treatment plan. It is assessing the extent to which the tumor has invaded the vagina and whether it has spread to adjacent organs or tissues. Vaginal cancer is staged from I to IV. Here is the classification of the typical stages of vaginal cancer:

Stage 1: It is confined only in the vagina and has not invaded tissues immediately surrounding it.
Stage 2: It involves adjacent structures or spreads to the walls of the pelvis.
Stage 3: The cancer extends further into the pelvis and might involve the urinary bladder or rectum, as well as lymph nodes in the pelvic cavity.
Stage 4: The cancer has reached distant organs, such as the lungs, liver, or distant lymph nodes.

The staging process of this illness typically includes several physical examinations, imaging tests such as CT scans or MRIs, and biopsies to determine the actual severity of cancer spread.

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Diagnosis of Vaginal Cancer

First, your doctor will ask questions about the vaginal cancer symptoms. Then, you have to undergo a pelvic exam and Pap Smear. If cells are found to be abnormal, you probably will need other tests, such as a colposcopy and vaginal biopsy. 

Here are the different methods of diagnosis of vaginal cancer:

1. Pelvic Check-up

The healthcare provider checks on the vulva and feels inside the vagina with two fingers in order to look for problems. Your provider uses a speculum to stretch open your vagina, thus making it easy for your vaginal canal as well as cervix to be visualized.

2. Pap Smear

The healthcare provider will hold the vagina open with a speculum. Using a spatula-like instrument and a brush, cells from the cervix will be taken and sent to the laboratory check-up to find cancer or HPV.

3. Colposcopy

Your doctor will look at your vagina and cervix for abnormal cells by utilizing a lighted instrument called a colposcope during this procedure.

4. Biopsy

Last but not least, a biopsy is another vital diagnosis method most often performed during colposcopy. Your doctor will take a small tissue sample for cancer cell testing in a laboratory.

Treatments for Vaginal Cancer

The vaginal cancer treatment depends on the stages of the disease and the location of the tumor, and the overall health of the patient. Here are various methods related to vaginal cancer treatment:

1. Surgery

The tumor can be removed by surgery in the early stages of the vaginal cancer. It may either involve removing part of the vagina or, in advanced cases, may require full vaginectomy - removal of the vagina altogether. Surgical procedures may also include the removal of nearby lymph nodes if the cancer has already spread.

2. Radiation Therapy

Radiation can sometimes be used as a standalone treatment and sometimes in combination with surgery. These treatments can sometimes make the tumor shrink before surgery or concentrate the remaining cells of the cancer after surgery. In a very advanced condition, radiation therapy can alleviate symptoms or retard the growth of cancer.

3. Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is mainly prescribed for patients who are at a relatively advanced stage or whose cancer has spread out beyond the vagina. These drugs kill or inhibit the ability of cancerous cells to multiply. For greater effectiveness, chemotherapy is usually carried out in conjunction with radiation therapy.

4. Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy has now turned out to be the new promising treatment for many types of cancers, including vaginal cancer. Immunotherapy boosts the body's immune system to recognize and penetrate tumorous cells.

5. Palliative Care

In case the patient is diagnosed with the advanced stage of vaginal cancer, then perhaps palliative care would be more appropriate for alleviating symptoms to give the patient a quality life in his or her last months. It can control pain, bleeding, and other complications.

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Vaginal Cancer vs Cervical Cancer

There are vaginal and cervical cancers. These are different forms of gynecological cancers affecting two portions of the female pelvic cavity. Cervical cancer originates in the cervix, whereas vaginal cancer starts within the walls of the vagina. 

Early-stage cervical cancer symptoms are mild, and hence, routine screening methods such as a pap smear are necessary and crucial.
However, vaginal cancer usually has very patent symptoms such as bleeding or pelvic pain and would thus be recognized early in its course. In addition, although both cancers can result from infection by specific types of HPV, their respective treatments and prognosis are drastically different.

Vaginal cancer is a rare but fatal disease that needs immediate medical involvement. Although effective treatments such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are available, they can be pretty costly. Under such circumstances, reliable medical insurance, such as Star Health Insurance, can offer comprehensive health coverage and peace of mind, providing the best care at the right time.