Understanding Vaginal Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Vaginal cancer is rare, it begins in the cells of the tube that goes from the lower part of the womb to the outside. It is just 1 to 2 percent of all the cancers that women get. But, it’s key to know about it. Spotting the signs early leads to early find and better care. 

If caught early, vaginal cancer can often be fixed well. Knowing is key to quick find. In some late cases or tied health issues, uterus transplant treatment might also be looked at as part of a wide plan to help.

Types of Vaginal Cancer:

There are some different types of vaginal cancer, which are based on where the cancer starts:

• Squamous cell carcinoma: This type is the most common, making up about 85–90% of vaginal cancers. It begins in the flat cells that line the vagina and grows slow. It often starts as a pre-cancer stage called vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN).

• Adenocarcinoma: It starts in glands in the vagina. It is often seen in old women. A rare sort is clear cell adenocarcinoma. It links to fake estrogen, named diethylstilbestrol (DES), used before birth.

• Melanoma: Often seen in the skin, melanoma can also happen in the vagina. It is aggressive and usually found in older women.

• Sarcoma: Vaginal sarcomas start in the connective tissues, the muscles, or the blood pathways of the vaginal wall. These are very rare and grow fast.

Causes and Risks:

The exact cause of vaginal cancer isn't fully clear, but some risks are known:

• HPV (Human Papillomavirus) bug: HPV is a germ you get from sex. It can lead to many types of cancer, including cancer of the vagina. If you catch it, & it is a bad type, your risk of cell cancer goes up.

• Age: This cancer happens mostly in women who are over 60. It's very rare in women under 40.

• Diethylstilbestrol (DES) Exposure: Women whose moms took DES while pregnant from the 1940s to 1970s to stop baby loss may face a higher chance of getting clear cell adenocarcinoma in their vagina or cervix.

• Past women's cancers: If you had cervical cancer or not yet cancer conditions, especially if treated with rays, your risk can go up.

• Smoking: Using smokes is tied to many bad cells, such as in the birth part, as it can break the body's shield & keep HPV for too long. 

• Weak body guard: Girls with low shields, like those with HIV or on drugs that drop the body's guard, face high risk for HPV-linked bad cells.

• Long vaginal hurt: It's rare, but long pain or puff, due to a tool in use or an illness not fixed, can up the risk a bit.

Symptoms:

In the starting stages, vaginal cancer doesn’t show any signs. As it grows, these signs might show:

• Abnormal blood from the vagina, mainly after sex or between periods

• Watery stuff coming out from the vagina

• A lump in the vagina

• Pain during sex

• Pain in the pelvis or vagina

• Pain or often going to pee

• Hard time with pooping or moving bowels

These signs are not just for vaginal cancer and can happen with other things, but they should always be checked by a doctor, especially if they keep happening.

Diagnosis:

Finding it early can really help the outlook for vaginal cancer. Different ways might be used to check:

• Pelvic exam: A doctor may see odd spots in the vagina during this usual check. The doctor will look for bumps or weird things.

• Pap test: This test mainly looks for cervical cancer, but can also find odd cells in the vagina, mostly if the test takes cells from the vagina's side.

• Colposcopy: The colposcopy method uses a tool to see the vagina and cervix more closely, looking for not normal spots. If weird tissue is found, a biopsy is taken.

• Biopsy: A small part of the vagina's tissue is taken and looked at with a microscope. This is the easy way or strategy to find out if it’s vaginal cancer.

• Imaging tests: If cancer is found, it might be determined how far the sickness has spread and what stage it’s in by using scans like MRI, CT, or PET.

Stages:

Vaginal cancer has stages from I to IV:

• Stage I: Cancer stays inside the wall of the vagina.

• Stage II: Cancer moves to close parts next to the vagina but not to the pelvic wall.

• Stage III: Cancer has hit the pelvic wall or lymph nodes.

• Stage IV: Cancer has expanded to the bladder, rectum, or parts far away (such as the lungs or liver).

Options for Treatment:

Treatment depends on the kind, stage, spot, and the overall health of the person. Common choices include:

• Surgery: Surgery types range from simple cut-out to more wide ones like taking out all or some of the vagina, womb removing, or pelvic cleaning in far cases. Surgery is often used for early stages.

• Radiation care: Outside ray care or inside ray care (brachytherapy) is often used, alone or after surgery. It works well for squamous cell carcinoma.

• Drug care: Drug care may be used in far cases, alone or with ray care (chemoradiation). Drugs like cisplatin are often used for squamous cell carcinoma.

• Aimed care and body’s guard care: Though still being looked at, these newer care ways aim to lift the body’s own fight or aim at certain cancer cell moves. They might be used in tests or for cases that don't turn out well.

Ways to Lower Risk:

While not all vaginal cancers can be stopped, there are ways to cut down risks:

• HPV shots: Shots like Gardasil guard against the worst HPV kinds. Getting the shots before starting sex gives the best guard.

• Regular women's checks: Yearly checks can help find odd things early, even before signs start.

• Safe sex ways: Using safe cover and having fewer sex partners can cut down the risk of getting HPV.

• Stop smoking: Not smoking cuts down the risk of many cancers, including vaginal cancer.

• Know your past health: If you were around DES before birth, tell your doctor, as regular checks may be told.

Conclusion

Vaginal cancer is not very common, but when it does happen, it is a serious health problem. We need to learn about it, find it fast, and fix it well. Usually, it hides early on, yet being alert to the signs and keeping up with check-ups can help us catch it soon. 

With new methods to test, heal, and block HPV, we hope for good results and less cases in the near future. If you notice any odd signs with your body, don't let it slide; talk to a doctor. Finding it early can save lives.