Cancer of the vagina | Diseases of the vagina

Cancer of the vagina

Vaginal cancer (vaginal carcinoma) is a rare disease. It affects older women and the tumor is often located in the upper and posterior third of the vagina. From there it grows towards the surrounding structures and early on attacks other organs, such as the bladder or rectum.

Infection with the HP virus (human papilloma virus), which is also associated with the development of cervical cancer, is considered a risk factor for the development of vaginal carcinoma. Symptoms that show up in the case of vaginal cancer are When choosing the therapy, it depends on whether the vagina should be preserved, for example if there is still a desire to have children, and where the tumor is located. If there is a desire to preserve the vagina, radiotherapy is performed.

Many vaginal cancers respond well to radiation therapy. If it is decided that the vagina should be removed, the uterus or the external genitals must also be removed, depending on the location of the tumor. If other organs are already affected by the tumor, they will also be removed.

You can find detailed information on this topic at Vaginal Cancer

  • Vaginal bleeding
  • Ulcers and bleeding on contact

Cancer of the vulva is diagnosed in about 8 out of 100,000 women every year. This makes it the fourth most common gynecological cancer. Typical symptoms are itching and burning for a long time, as well as dry vaginal mucosa.

In addition, there are visible changes in the skin of the labia and mons veneris, e.g. open areas or hardening.The most common cause is an infection with HPV (Human Papilloma Virus), some strains of which can cause cancer. The best possible therapy is an operation in which the affected tissue is removed with a safety margin of 1cm. Radiation or chemotherapy only achieve significantly lower cure rates.

Since cancers of the vulva recur in over 50% of cases, a close and long follow-up is very important. If cancer of the vulva is detected before lymph nodes are affected, the 5-year survival rate is 80%. For lymph node infections and larger tumors, the survival rate drops to 20-60% depending on the stage.