By Antin. Cancer of the vagina is rare. Cancer of the vagina always a squamous cell cancer exceptis an adenocarcinoma that occurs in women who were exposed to DES (diethylstilbestrol) in-utero. Vaginal cancer is rare is cause cancers of the vagina that also involve the vulva are considered to be vulvar cancers; if it involves the cervix it is considered to be a cervical cancer. Vaginal cancer may cause symptoms of abnormal bleeding and foul discharge. Bleeding after intercourse is a symptom of vaginal cancer as well as cancer of the cervix.

Premalignant Phase of Vaginal Cancer

The premalignant phase of Vaginal Cancer vagina similar to the ones of the vulva and cervix. This is also sometimes called carcinoma-in-situ. The premalignant phase is usually asymptomatic but can be detected by routine Pap test. Vaginal cancer in this phase can be treated by excision, laser evaporation or occasionally by a chemotherapy type of vaginal cream.

Invasive Cancer of The Vagina

Invasive cancer of the vagina is usually treated by radiation. Although it can be removed surgically, the bladder or rectum or both would have to be removed with it in order to get a good margin around the cancer. As a general Vaginal cancer do not spread early, so they are usually localized to the pelvic area on diagnosis. This is a good situation for radiation since that area can easily be irradiated and radioactive material can easily be placed into the vagina next to the cancer.

The rare type vaginal cancer called Adenocarcinomas of the vagina associated with DES exposure were more frequent in the 1970’s and 1980’s. DES, diethylstilbestrol, is a synthetic estrogen hormone that was given to pregnant women in the 1950’s to try to prevent miscarriages. It was not effective and its use discontinued. The female infants of these women, who took the DES, had some developmental abnormalities of their vaginas and cervices that put them at risk for developing a particular type of adenocarcinoma called a clear cell carcinoma.

Women who have had a hysterectomy for non cancer problems should still have a Pap test every several years. They can still develop malignant and pre-malignant vaginal cancer.


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