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It's not clear what causes vaginal cancer. In general, cancer begins when healthy cells acquire a genetic mutation that turns normal cells into abnormal cells.
Healthy cells grow and multiply at a set rate, eventually dying at a set time. Cancer cells grow and multiply out of control, and they don't die. The accumulating abnormal cells form a mass (tumor).
Cancer cells invade nearby tissues and can break off from an initial tumor to spread elsewhere in the body (metastasize).
Vaginal cancer is divided into different types based on the type of cell where the cancer began. Vaginal cancer types include:
Vaginal squamous cell carcinoma, which begins in the thin, flat cells (squamous cells) that line the surface of the vagina, and is the most common type Vaginal adenocarcinoma, which begins in the glandular cells on the surface of your vagina Vaginal melanoma, which develops in the pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) of your vagina Vaginal sarcoma, which develops in the connective tissue cells or muscles cells in the walls of your vagina Risk factors Factors that may increase your risk of vaginal cancer
Increasing age. Your risk of vaginal cancer increases as you age. Most people who are diagnosed with vaginal cancer are older than 60.
Atypical cells in the vagina called vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia. Being diagnosed with vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) increases your risk of vaginal cancer.
With VAIN, cells in the vagina appear different from normal cells, but not different enough to be considered cancer. A small number of those with VAIN will eventually develop vaginal cancer, though doctors aren't sure what causes some cases to develop into cancer and others to remain benign.
Vaginal Cancer After PeriodVAIN is frequently caused by the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause cervical, vaginal and vulvar cancers, among others. Vaccines that prevent some types of HPV infection are available.
Exposure to miscarriage prevention drug. If your mother took a drug called diethylstilbestrol (DES) while pregnant in the 1950s you may have an increased risk of a certain type of vaginal cancer called clear cell adenocarcinoma.
Other risk factors that have been linked to an increased risk of vaginal cancer include: Multiple sexual partners Early age at first intercourse Smoking HIV infection Complications Vaginal cancer may spread (metastasize) to distant areas of your body, such as your lungs, liver and bones. Prevention There is no sure way to prevent vaginal cancer. However, you may reduce your risk if you: Undergo regular pelvic exams and Pap tests. You can increase the chance that vaginal cancer is discovered early by having routine pelvic exams and Pap tests. When discovered in its earliest stages, vaginal cancer is more likely to be cured. Discuss with your doctor when to begin these tests and how often to repeat them.
Ask your doctor about the HPV vaccine. Receiving a vaccination to prevent HPV infection may reduce your risk of vaginal cancer and other HPV-related cancers. Ask your doctor whether an HPV vaccine is appropriate for you. Don't smoke. If you smoke, quit. If you don't smoke, don't start. Smoking increases the risk of vaginal cancer. Risk Factors and Preventing Vaginal Cancer There is no way to know for sure if you will get or if you can prevent vaginal cancer. However, knowing your risks and ways you may prevent vaginal cancer can only give you a better chance for getting treatment. Vaginal Cancer Risks You may want to consider having genetic testing to find out if you have a genetic risk for developing cancer. If you do, you will want to discuss it with your doctor and a genetic counselor. A next step may be to get early and regular screening. If you experience certain symptoms, your doctor will likely suggest that you have diagnostic testing for vaginal cancer.
In addition, the following factors may increase the chance of your getting vaginal cancer: Any health condition that weakens your immune system (such as HIV, the virus that can lead to AIDS), making it hard for your body to fight off health problems Also having cervical cancer Human papillomavirus (HPV) Smoking Preventing Vaginal Cancer Since vaginal cancer may be caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), having young girls—11 and 12 years old and even as young as nine years old—vaccinated for HPV is one way to prevent vaginal cancer. If teens and young women—13 to 26 year old—did not get the vaccine at a younger age, there is still time for the HPV vaccination.
Maintaining a healthy life style, is always a positive way to maintain your health. Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the cervix. The cervix is a hollow cylinder that connects the lower part of a woman’s uterus to her vagina. Most cervical cancers begin in cells on the surface of the cervix. Symptoms of cervical cancer Many women with cervical cancer don’t realize they have the disease early on because it usually doesn’t cause symptoms until the late stages. When symptoms do appear, they’re easily mistaken for common conditions like menstrual periods and urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Typical cervical cancer symptoms are: unusual bleeding, like in between periods, after sex, or after menopause vaginal discharge that looks or smells different than usual pain in the pelvis needing to urinate more often pain during urination If you notice any of these symptoms, see your doctor for an exam. Find out how your doctor will diagnose cervical cancer. Cervical cancer causes Most cervical cancer cases are caused by the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV). This is the same virus that causes genital warts.
There are about 100 different strains of HPV. Only certain types cause cervical cancer. The two types that most commonly cause cancer are HPV-16 and HPV-18. Being infected with a cancer-causing strain of HPV doesn’t mean you’ll get cervical cancer. Your immune system eliminates the vast majority of HPV infections, often within 2 years. HPV can also cause other cancers in women and men. These include: vulvar cancer vaginal cancer penile cancer anal cancer rectal cancer throat cancer
HPV is a very common infection. Find out what percentage of sexually active adults will get it at some point in their lifetime. Cervical cancer treatment Cervical cancer is very treatable if you catch it early. The four main treatments are: surgery radiation therapy chemotherapy targeted therapy Sometimes these treatments are combined to make them more effective. Surgery The purpose of surgery is to remove as much of the cancer as possible. Sometimes the doctor can remove just the area of the cervix that contains cancer cells. For cancer that’s more widespread, surgery may involve removing the cervix and other organs in the pelvis.
Radiation therapy Radiation kills cancer cells using high-energy X-ray beams. It can be delivered through a machine outside the body. It can also be delivered from inside the body using a metal tube placed in the uterus or vagina. Chemotherapy Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Doctors give this treatment in cycles. You’ll get chemo for a period of time. You’ll then stop the treatment to give your body time to recover. Targeted therapy Bevacizumab (Avastin) is a newer drug that works in a different way from chemotherapy and radiation. It blocks the growth of new blood vessels that help the cancer grow and survive. This drug is often given together with chemotherapy.
If your doctor discovers precancerous cells in your cervix, they can be treated. See what methods stop these cells from turning into cancer. Cervical cancer stages After you’ve been diagnosed, your doctor will assign your cancer a stage. The stage tells whether the cancer has spread, and if so, how far it’s spread. Staging your cancer can help your doctor find the right treatment for you. Cervical cancer has four stages: Stage 1: The cancer is small. It may have spread to the lymph nodes. It hasn’t spread to other parts of your body. Stage 2: The cancer is larger. It may have spread outside of the uterus and cervix or to the lymph nodes. It still hasn’t reached other parts of your body. Stage 3: The cancer has spread to the lower part of the vagina or to the pelvis. It may be blocking the ureters, the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. It hasn’t spread to other parts of your body. Stage 4: The cancer may have spread outside of the pelvis to organs like your lungs, bones, or liver. Cervical cancer test A Pap smear is a test doctors use to diagnose cervical cancer. To perform this test, your doctor collects a sample of cells from the surface of your cervix. These cells are then sent to a lab to be tested for precancerous or cancerous changes.
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