Are you aware of vaginal cancer? Let's talk about it openly.

Today we are going to talk about a very important topic that many women are a little hesitant to talk about, but we all need to be aware of. That is a disease called Vaginal Cancer. You may be scared when you hear this name. But don't be scared. This is a very rare type of cancer. But being aware of this is very important for your health. So today we will talk about this very simply, as if we were talking to a friend, in detail.

Simply put, what is vaginal cancer?

Vaginal cancer is a cancer that develops in the cells that line your vagina, the inner layer of cells. As you know, the vagina is a tube-like organ that extends from the lower part of the uterus, the cervix, to your external genitals, the vulva.

There's something important to understand here. Sometimes cancers that start in other places, like cervical cancer or uterine cancer, can spread to the vagina. But the vaginal cancer we're talking about today is cancer that starts in the cells of the vagina. This is much rarer than the spread of those other cancers.

What are the main types of this cancer?

There are several types of vaginal cancer. These are classified according to the type of cell in which the cancer begins. Let's look at the main types.

How common is this disease?

As I said before, this is a very rare disease. Only about one in 100,000 women is diagnosed with this disease. Of all gynecological cancers, vaginal cancer accounts for a very small percentage, between 1% and 2%. So there is no need to be unnecessarily afraid of this, but awareness is the most important thing.

Who is at higher risk of developing this disease?

Like any disease, there are certain risk factors that contribute to the development of this cancer. Let's take a look at what they are.

• Being over 60 years of age: The risk of developing this cancer increases with age. The most common type, ``Squamous cell carcinoma,'' is usually diagnosed around the age of 60. However, it can occasionally develop in people younger than that.
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection: HPV is a sexually transmitted virus. It is a major risk factor for cervical cancer as well as vaginal cancer. Having multiple sexual partners and not getting vaccinated against HPV increases the risk of infection.
• Vaginal Intraepithelial Neoplasia (VAIN) condition: `(VAIN)` means that there are abnormal cells in the lining of the vagina, but they have not yet become cancerous cells. This is like a pre-cancerous condition. Some people develop this condition as cancer, while others do not. People who have `(HPV)` infection are more likely to develop `(VAIN).`
• Having cervical cancer or cervical dysplasia: There is a certain risk of developing vaginal cancer if you have previously been treated for cervical cancer. There is also a risk of having abnormal cells in the cervix (cervical dysplasia).
• Exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES): ``DES'' is a synthetic hormone that was given to prevent complications during pregnancy between 1940 and 1971. If your mother took this drug during pregnancy, you are at increased risk of developing ``Adenocarcinoma''.
• Smoking: Don't be surprised, smoking doubles the risk of vaginal cancer.

What are the symptoms of this?

In the early stages, this cancer often causes no symptoms. You may only find out about it if your doctor finds abnormal cells during a routine check-up, such as a Pap smear. That's why it's important to have regular gynecological exams.

But if symptoms do appear, they may be like this:

How to diagnose the disease?

When you see a doctor, he or she will first listen carefully to your symptoms and then perform several tests to check for cancer or precancerous cells.

Main tests

• Pelvic exam: The doctor will examine your vagina and cervix to check for any abnormalities or lumps.
• Pap smear: This involves taking a small sample of cells from your cervix and vagina and looking at them under a microscope to see if there are any abnormal cells.
• Colposcopy: This test is done if there is any abnormality in the Pap smear. In this, the vagina and cervix are carefully examined with a special light and magnifying device (a colposcope).
• Biopsy: This is the only way to be 100% sure whether it is cancer. During a colposcopy, a small piece of tissue is taken from a suspicious area and sent to a lab to check for cancer cells.

Determining the stage of cancer

If the biopsy confirms that it is cancer, the next step is to find out how far it has spread. We call this staging. Different types of scans are used for this.

• CT scan, MRI scan, PET scan: These scans can check the size of the tumor, whether it has spread to the lymph nodes, and whether it has spread to other parts of the body.
• Cystoscopy: A test to see if the cancer has spread to the bladder.
• Proctoscopy: A test to see if cancer has spread to the rectum.

How is it treated?

The treatment plan depends on many factors, including the type of cancer you have, its stage, your age, and your general health. If you are planning to have children, you may want to discuss this with your doctor as well.

• Surgery: Surgery may be performed to remove the cancer and a small amount of healthy tissue around it (`Wide local excision`), to remove part or all of the vagina (`Vaginectomy`), and sometimes to remove the uterus and lymph nodes (`Hysterectomy`). If the disease returns, a larger surgery, such as `Pelvic exenteration`, may be necessary to remove several organs in the pelvis.
• Radiation therapy: This involves using high-energy rays (such as X-rays) to destroy cancer cells. This can be done using a machine outside the body (`External radiation`) or by inserting radioactive material into the vagina (`Internal radiation`).
• Chemotherapy: Giving drugs to kill cancer cells. This is rarely used alone for vaginal cancer. It is often given along with radiation therapy to increase its effectiveness.

How to reduce the risk?

Although there is no way to 100% prevent this cancer, there are several things you can do to reduce your risk.

• Get regular gynecological exams and Pap tests. Talk to your doctor about how often you should have these.
• Get the HPV vaccine. Ask your doctor about the HPV vaccine. This can significantly reduce the risk of cervical cancer as well as vaginal cancer.
• Avoid smoking completely. Smoking increases the risk of all cancers.

Finally, remember that if you are diagnosed with vaginal cancer, it is not the end of the world. Talk openly with your doctor and be clear about the type of cancer, the extent of its spread, and your treatment options. If detected early, you are more likely to be successfully treated, make a full recovery, and live a normal life. It is also important to seek emotional support from your family, friends, and a counselor during this journey.

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