Cancer of the vagina

The vagina cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the vagina (female sexual organ), also called the birth canal.
Cancer that begins in the vagina it is called primary cancer is however rare. More often, the cancer cells found in these organs belong to a cancer that started elsewhere as the cervix. There are two main types of primary cancer of the vagina: the squamous cell and adenocarcinoma.
Most vaginal cancers are squamous-cell floor which develop from the surface of the lining of the vagina. They usually grow slowly and are more frequent in the upper part of the vagina near the cervix. This type of cancer typically affects women with an age between 50 and 70 years.
Adenocarcinomas are formed from the glands which are found in the vaginal wall. This type of cancer is much less common than squamous cell. However, it is the most common type of cancer of the vagina in women under the age of 20 years. The daughters of women who took a drug, diethylstilbestrol (DES - synthetic estrogen used as anti-abortion and ovarian failure) during pregnancy have a higher risk of developing this rare form of cancer.
It is now recognized that some non-cancerous vaginal lesions, called vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia, represent a change in probability of developing cancer. This vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia is associated with infection by human papillomavirus (HPV), which can also lead to cancers of the cervix, anus and throat.
Some less common types of cancer of the vagina include malignant melanomas and sarcomas. Melanomas tend to affect the bottom or outside of the vagina, while sarcomas develop deep into the vaginal wall.
Signs and symptoms of cancer of the vagina include:
• an abnormal vaginal bleeding, often after intercourse, which is not related to the menstrual period
• an unusual vaginal discharge
• a mass palpable vaginally
• pain during sex
• Pain in the pelvic region
• painful urination and constipation.
These changes also occur in many diseases less dangerous? and more common? such as infections, but should always be evaluated by a doctor.
In some cases, a woman may not have any symptoms and may, in such circumstances, the disease is found during a routine examination.
Treatment
The choice of treatment depends on type of cancer and its stage. The treatment plan also takes into account the woman's age, their overall health, fertility and personal preferences.
The two main treatments for cancer of the vagina are radiotherapy and surgery. Chemotherapy proved to be not very effective for cancer of the vagina and is used only in very advanced stage cancers (with or without radiotherapy) and in such cases, generally as part of a clinical trial.
May be used various types of radiation, including external beam radiotherapy, the internal radiotherapy or a combination thereof. The external beam radiotherapy involves carefully directing a beam of radiation to the cancer from a machine located outside the body. Internal radiation therapy, also called brachytherapy, involves the placement of radioactive materials within the vagina. While external beam radiation therapy can damage nearby healthy tissues, brachytherapy may cause more side effects vaginal, such as scarring of the vaginal tissues.
There are two other types of internal radiotherapy. The low dose brachytherapy, which involves the placement of radioactive materials within a cylindrical container inserted into the vagina for a day or two. And interstitial therapy, which involves the placement of radioactive materials directly into the cancerous tissue via needles.
Only a small number of cancer of the vagina is treated with surgery. Furthermore, this treatment may not be more effective than radiotherapy. The adenocarcinomas in Stage I is an exception. In these cases, doctors may surgically remove the tumor, some surrounding tissue and lymph nodes. This operation can be limited followed by radiotherapy. This type of treatment can help preserve the woman's fertility, which is important, since these cancers are more common in young women.
Women with pavement-cell cancers in Stage II which can not be subjected to radiotherapy? possibly due to the fact that they have already done in the past radiotherapy for another cancer? may also be subjected to surgery.
The extent of the surgery depends on the stage and size of the cancer. The types of surgery include:
• Laser Surgery. Involves the use of a laser beam to destroy the cancer. This method is often used to treat cancers in Stage 0.
• Electroexcisão per loop. Involves the use of radio waves of high frequency and low voltage wire loop through a fine excision by eliminating superficial cancers (Stage 0).
• Vaginectomia radical. Remove the vagina and adjacent tissue.
• Vaginectomia combined with radical hysterectomy. Remove the vagina, the uterus and surrounding tissues.
• lymphadenectomy. Remove the lymph nodes of the groin and pelvic area.
• Pelvic exenteration. This area includes a radical hysterectomy, a vaginectomia and removal of the bladder, rectum and part of the colon.
If it is necessary to remove all or part of the vagina, this can be reconstructed with tissue from another part of the body.
Prevention
To reduce the risk of cancer of the vagina must meet the following guidelines:
• Avoid infection by human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV infection is a common sexually transmitted disease that causes genital warts. Certain HPV types are associated with cancer of the cervix and the vagina. If these organs are infected by HPV, cells can grow in an abnormal manner which increases the likelihood of developing a cancer-cell floor. The risk of HPV infection increases with the number of unprotected sex, number of sexual partners or have sex with a person who has many sexual partners. To prevent HPV infection, you should always use condoms and limit the number of their sexual partners. Condoms do not totally prevent HPV infection, but can reduce the risk of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases.
• Make regular Pap smears. Many pavement-cell vaginal cancers develop from changes in the surface of the vagina. These changes can be detected by a Pap smear and can be treated before cancer develops truly. In general, doctors recommend that women begin to perform Pap smears before becoming sexually active or at least about 21 years of age. After three negative Pap smear, the doctor may perform this procedure with intervals of two to three years (this will depend on your age and the risk of developing cancer of the cervix). Women older than 40 should continue to perform an annual gynecological exam.
• Do not smoke. Women with cancer of the vagina at an increased risk of lung cancer. Since lung cancer is primarily related to the consumption of tobacco smoking and cancer of the vagina may be associated.