Vaginal Cancer

Cancer is made of changed cells that grow out of control. The changed (abnormal) cells often grow to form a lump or mass called a tumor. Cancer cells can also grow into (invade) nearby areas. And they can spread to other parts of the body. This is called metastasis.

Vaginal cancer starts in the cells that form the vagina or birth canal. The vagina connects the uterus to the outside of the body. Most vaginal cancers start in the cells that line the inside of the vagina. They can start in other parts of the vagina too.

A risk factor is anything that may increase your chance of having a disease. The exact cause of someone’s cancer may not be known. But risk factors can make it more likely for a person to have cancer. Some risk factors may not be in your control. But others may be things you can change. 

The risk factors for vaginal cancer include:

• Older age.

• HPV (human papillomavirus) infection.

• Cervical cancer in the past.

• Smoking tobacco.

• Your mother took a medicine called DES while pregnant with you.

• Changes in the cells lining the vagina (vaginal adenosis).

• A hysterectomy.

Talk with your healthcare provider about your risk factors for vaginal cancer and what you can do about them.

There is no sure way to prevent vaginal cancer. Some risk factors can be controlled to help reduce risk.

There are currently no regular screening tests for vaginal cancer. Screening tests are done to check for disease in people who don’t have symptoms. Regular pelvic exams may help find it when it’s small and before it has spread.

You can have vaginal cancer with no symptoms. Common signs of vaginal cancer include:

• Bleeding or discharge not related to your period.

• A lump in your vagina.

• Pelvic pain.

• Pain during sex.

• Pain when you urinate.

• Trouble having a bowel movement.

Many of these may be caused by other health problems. It is important to see a healthcare provider if you have these symptoms. Only a healthcare provider can tell if you have cancer.

The most common way to find vaginal cancer is unusual bleeding that causes a woman to see a doctor. The doctor will do a pelvic exam. A colposcopy may be done. For this test, the doctor uses a tool with a magnifying lens to get a close-up look at the inside of the vagina. The tool is not put into your vagina. 

A biopsy is the only way to know if a lump or change is cancer. Small pieces of tissue are taken out and checked for cancer cells. Many times a hollow needle is used to take out the bits of tissue. The samples are sent to a lab. Your results will come back in about one week.

After a diagnosis of vaginal cancer, you may have other tests. These help your healthcare providers learn more about the cancer. They can help determine the stage of the cancer. The stage is how much and how far the cancer has spread (metastasized) in your body. It is one of the most important things to know when deciding how to treat the cancer.

Once your cancer is staged, your healthcare provider will talk with you about what the stage means for your treatment. Be sure to ask your healthcare provider to explain the stage of your cancer to you in a way you can understand.

Your treatment choices depend on the type of vaginal cancer you have, test results, and the stage of the cancer. Other things to think about are if you want to be able to have kids and your overall health. The goal of treatment may be to cure you, control the cancer, or help ease problems caused by the cancer. Talk with your healthcare team about your treatment choices, the goals of treatment, and what the risks and side effects may be.

Types of treatment for cancer are either local or systemic. Local treatments remove, destroy, or control the cancer cells in one area. Surgery and radiation are local treatments. Systemic treatment is used to destroy or control cancer cells that may have traveled around your body. When taken by pill or injection, chemotherapy is a systemic treatment. Most women with vaginal cancer will be treated with surgery and radiation. Some will also need chemo. 

You may have just one treatment or a combination of treatments. 

Talk with your healthcare providers about your treatment options. Make a list of questions. Think about the benefits and possible side effects of each option. Talk about your concerns with your healthcare provider before making a decision.

Cancer treatment such as chemotherapy and radiation can damage normal cells. This causes side effects such as hair loss, mouth sores, and vomiting. Talk with your healthcare provider about side effects you might have and ways to manage them. There may be things you can do and medicines you can take to help prevent or control side effects.

Vaginal cancer treatments can also affect your sex life. This may be hard to talk about, but sex is an important part of life. Ask what you can expect to happen and what you can do to help limit any changes.

Many people feel worried, depressed, and stressed when dealing with cancer. Getting treatment for cancer can be hard on your mind and body. Keep talking with your healthcare team about any problems or concerns you have. Work together to ease the effects of cancer and its symptoms on your daily life.

Here are tips:

• Talk with your family or friends.

• Ask your healthcare team or social worker for help.

• Speak with a counselor.

• Talk with a spiritual advisor, such as a minister or rabbi.

• Ask your healthcare team about medicines for depression or anxiety.

• Keep socially active.

• Join a cancer support group.

Cancer treatment is also hard on the body. To help yourself stay healthier, try to:

• Eat a healthy diet, with a focus on high-protein foods.

• Drink plenty of water, fruit juices, and other liquids.

• Keep physically active.

• Rest as much as needed.

• Talk with your healthcare team about ways to manage treatment side effects.

• Take your medicines as directed by your team.

Your healthcare provider will talk with you about when to call. You may be told to call if you have any of the below:

• New symptoms or symptoms that get worse.

• Signs of an infection, such as a fever.

• Side effects of treatment that affect your daily function or don’t get better with treatment.

Ask your healthcare provider what signs to watch for, and when to call. Know how to get help after office hours and on weekends and holidays.