Vagina Cancer

The vagina is a part of the female reproductive system where the upper end is at the cervix and the lower end opens to the outside through the vulva. In fact, the vagina is often referred to as the birth canal.

It is not common to have vaginal cancer

Compared to all the other types of cancer, vaginal cancer is a much less common form of cancer. The different forms of cancer have their different risk factors. However, in the case of vaginal cancer, it is not certain what risk factors bring about vaginal cancer. In fact, there are some women who have vaginal cancer without any risk factors. As usual, age is a risk factor with older women having more of a chance of contracting vaginal cancer.

Some women who were on Diethylstilbestrol (DES) hormonal drugs have been found to have contracted vaginal cancer. Vaginal adenosis has also been associated to increase the risk of contracting vaginal cancer. It is more prevalent to women who have been exposed to DES in fetal development. It has been found that about 75% of the women with vaginal cancer had the Human papillomavirus (HPV) virus. These viruses cause different types of warts in the different parts of the area like hands, feet, lips and tongues. There are also some HPV types that infect the female genital organs, anal area and male genital area which are transmitted through intercourse.

Wart lead to cancer

TThere are some behaviors that increase the probability of a woman contracting these warts. This behavior includes having intercourse at a young age, having intercourse with a person with multiple partners, the woman having many partners and through unprotected intercourse. Women with cervical cancer too are highly adept at contracting vaginal cancer as these two cancers have the same risk factors.

Young women who smoke may contract vaginal cancer because of the tobacco. And women with vaginal cancer have a higher probability of contracting lung cancer which is very closely related to vaginal cancer. It has been found that the virus that causes AIDS, HIV, tends to increase the probability of contracting vaginal cancer.

Vaginal Cancer Treatment

Once you have been diagnosed with vaginal cancer, you will be discussed by your cancer team for the best treatment plan for you. The choice of the treatment for you depends on the stage of the cancer when diagnosed. Even your age, health, the point if you intend to have children and other personal points are taken into consideration when choosing your treatment program.

You may not need to leap at the treatment option provided by your physician. You could get a second opinion to get more information and to think more about your predicament. There are also some insurance companies that need a second opinion for them to pay for your treatments.

The treatment options for vaginal cancer are usually radiation therapy and surgery, and in advanced diseases, chemotherapy with radiation. The idea of the treatment is to contain the infection by either removing or destroying the cancer so that the tumor is not able to grow, spread or return.