vaginal cancer

What are symptoms and signs of vaginal cancer?
Possible signs of vaginal cancer include pain or abnormal vaginal bleeding.
Vaginal cancer often does not cause early symptoms and may be found during a routine Pap test. When symptoms occur they may be caused by vaginal cancer or by other conditions. A doctor should be consulted if any of the following problems occur:
Bleeding or discharge not related to menstrual periods.
Pain during sexual intercourse.
Pain in the pelvic area.
A lump in the vagina.
What tests are used to diagnose vaginal cancer?
Tests that examine the vagina and other organs in the pelvis are used to detect (find) and diagnose vaginal cancer.
The following tests and procedures may be used:
Physical exam and history: An exam of the body to check general signs of health, including checking for signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual. A history of the patient's health habits and past illnesses and treatments will also be taken.
Pelvic exam: An exam of the vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and rectum. The doctor or nurse inserts one or two lubricated, gloved fingers of one hand into the vagina and places the other hand over the lower abdomen to feel the size, shape, and position of the uterus and ovaries. A speculum is also inserted into the vagina and the doctor or nurse looks at the vagina and cervix for signs of disease. A Pap test or Pap smear of the cervix is usually done. The doctor or nurse also inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum to feel for lumps or abnormal areas.
Pap smear: A procedure to collect cells from the surface of the cervix and vagina. A piece of cotton, a brush, or a small wooden stick is used to gently scrape cells from the cervix and vagina. The cells are viewed under a microscope to find out if they are abnormal. This procedure is also called a Pap test.
Biopsy: The removal of cells or tissues from the vagina and cervix so they can be viewed under a microscope by a pathologist to check for signs of cancer. If a Pap smear shows abnormal cells in the vagina, a biopsy may be done during a colposcopy.
Colposcopy: A procedure in which a colposcope (a lighted, magnifying instrument) is used to check the vagina and cervix for abnormal areas. Tissue samples may be taken using a curette (spoon-shaped
Signs and Symptoms
Vaginal cancer is a rare disease and makes up less than 3 percent of all gynecological cancers. There are four different types of vaginal cancer, including:
§ Squamous Cell Cancer: The most common type and usually occurs in the upper part of the vagina. It typically affects women between the ages of 50 and 70.
§ Adenocarcinoma: The second most common type and usually affects women between the ages of 12 and 30, although it occassionally occurs in women of all age groups.
§ Malignant Melanomas Sarcomas: Extremely rare forms of the disease.
It is important to know that even if you have had a hysterectomy, you can still develop vaginal cancer.
Risk Factors
As with many cancers, the exact cause of vaginal cancer is not known for sure. However, some factors may increase a woman's risk for the disease, including:
§ Smoking
§ Age, women over the age of 50 are most commonly affected by squamous cell vaginal cancer
§ History of cervical cancer
§ Having had a hysterectomy
§ History of genital warts caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV)
§ Having had radiation therapy to the pelvic area
In addition, research has shown that young women whose mothers took a drug known as diethylstilbestrol (DES) are at a higher risk for developing the disease. The drug DES was given to pregnant women between 1945 and 1970 to prevent them from having miscarriages.
In some cases, vaginal cancer may not cause any symptoms and is detected by an abnormal Pap smear. However, some common symptoms of the condition include:
§ Bleeding or discharge not related to menstrual periods
§ Difficult or painful urination
§ Pain during intercourse or in the pelvic area