Vaginal Cancer: Q&A
1. What are the early symptoms of vaginal cancer?
Early-stage vaginal cancer presents with abnormal vaginal bleeding, particularly after sexual intercourse or after menopause.Increased vaginal discharge—which may be watery or bloody—is also a common symptom.
2. What causes vaginal cancer?
HPV infection—particularly with the HPV16 genotype—is a primary cause, similar to the etiology of cervical cancer.Persistent vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia can progress to invasive carcinoma.
3. What are the surgical treatment options for vaginal cancer?
Early-stage vaginal cancer with localized lesions can be treated with wide local excision.Surgery for upper vaginal cancer is similar to that for cervical cancer, involving radical hysterectomy/vaginectomy and lymph node dissection.
4. What is minimally invasive treatment for vaginal cancer?
Early-stage superficial lesions can be locally excised under colposcopic guidance.Small lesions are removed via laser or electrosurgery.Laparoscopic or robot-assisted surgery is used for pelvic lymph node assessment.
5. Why is radiotherapy often the primary treatment for vaginal cancer?
Due to the vagina's unique anatomical location, surgery makes it difficult to ensure clear margins while preserving function.Radiotherapy can cover the entire vagina and regional lymph nodes.Combining external beam radiotherapy with intracavitary brachytherapy increases the local radiation dose.
6. How can vaginal health be maintained after treatment for vaginal cancer?
After radiotherapy, the vaginal mucosa becomes thin and dry; lubricants can be used to maintain moisture.Vaginal dilators are used to prevent post-radiotherapy vaginal stenosis.Regular gynecological examinations are necessary to monitor for recurrence and post-radiotherapy complications.
7. Follow-up after vaginal cancer treatment?
After treatment, undergo regular gynecological examinations and pelvic CT or MRI scans—every 3–6 months during the first two years.Monitor for changes in local vaginal symptoms.Pelvic examinations should include palpation and visual inspection of the vaginal walls.
