Anyone with Vaginal Cancer history...?

Signs and Symptoms

Vaginal cancer is a rare disease and makes up less than 3 percent of all gynecological cancers. There are four different types of vaginal cancer, including:

Squamous Cell Cancer: The most common type and usually occurs in the upper part of the vagina. It typically affects women between the ages of 50 and 70.

Adenocarcinoma: The second most common type and usually affects women between the ages of 12 and 30, although it occassionally occurs in women of all age groups.

Malignant Melanomas Sarcomas: Extremely rare forms of the disease.

It is important to know that even if you have had a hysterectomy, you can still develop vaginal cancer.

Risk Factors

As with many cancers, the exact cause of vaginal cancer is not known for sure. However, some factors may increase a woman's risk for the disease, including:

Smoking

Age, women over the age of 50 are most commonly affected by squamous cell vaginal cancer

History of cervical cancer

Having had a hysterectomy

History of genital warts caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV)

Having had radiation therapy to the pelvic area

In addition, research has shown that young women whose mothers took a drug known as diethylstilbestrol (DES) are at a higher risk for developing the disease. The drug DES was given to pregnant women between 1945 and 1970 to prevent them from having miscarriages.

In some cases, vaginal cancer may not cause any symptoms and is detected by an abnormal Pap smear. However, some common symptoms of the condition include:

Bleeding or discharge not related to menstrual periods

Difficult or painful urination

Pain during intercourse or in the pelvic area

Diagnosis

If you are experiencing any symptoms of vaginal cancer or other problems related to your vagina, you should visit a doctor immediately for a definite diagnosis. Your doctor will begin by asking about any symptoms you may be experiencing, as well as reviewing your medical history and conducting a thorough physical exam. To determine the cause of your symptoms, the following tests may be performed:

Pelvic Exam-- This test involves feeling the uterus, vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder and rectum to find any abnormality in their shape or size.

Pap Smear-- As part of the pelvic exam, your doctor may conduct a Pap smear. He or she will use a piece of gently scrape the outside of the cervix and vagina with a small spatula and brush in order to pick up cells, which then can be analyzed for any abnormalities. Some pressure may be felt, but usually with no pain.

Coloscopy-- If any abnormal cells are found during your Pap smear, your doctor may recommend a coloscopy. During this exam, your doctor will use a colposcope, which is a small microscope to see your vagina in more detail. This is an outpatient procedure that takes about 10-15 minutes and is usually not painful, though may be a little uncomfortable.

Biopsy-- If any abnormal cells are found during your Pap smear, your doctor will then need to conduct a biopsy. During this procedure, a small sample of tissue is removed from the vagina and then examined under a microscope for any cancer cells.

Computed tomography (CT) Scan-- This imaging test takes a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. The pictures are created by a computer, which is linked to an X-ray machine. A special dye may be injected into a vein or swallowed to help the organs or tissues show up more clearly.

Magnetic Resonance Imagining (MRI)-- This is a painless non-invasive procedure that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to construct pictures of the body. Any imaging plane, or "slice" can be projected, stored in a computer, or printed on film. MRI can easily be performed through clothing and bones.

Get your colposcopy report and then consider the ramifications.

Not all hysterectomies are complete hysterectomies, a part of cervix at the vaginal vault was usually left in some cases, which pertained mainly to uterine, endometrial involvement. kindly be sure if something was left behind or not.