Treatment for cancer in the vagina

Treatment for cancer in the vagina can be done with surgery, laser, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or topical therapy, depending on the type and size of the cancer, stage of the disease and the patient's general health.

Symptoms of cancer can be a foul-smelling discharge, pain during intimate contact, and pain when urinating. Cancer in the vagina is rare and usually affects women between 45 and 64 years old.

The chance of curing cancer of the vagina decreases the later treatment begins, but according to statistics, half of patients with vagina cancer manage to be cured.

Radiotherapy for cancer in the vagina

Radiation therapy for cancer in the vagina uses radiation to destroy, or slow the growth of, cancer cells and can be done in conjunction with low doses of chemotherapy.

Radiotherapy can be applied by external radiation, through a machine that emits radiation beams over the vagina, and must be performed 5 times a week, for a few weeks or months. If it is brachytherapy, the radioactive material is placed close to the cancer and can be administered at home, 3 to 4 times a week, 1 or 2 weeks apart.

The side effects of radiation therapy for cancer in the vagina can be:

• Tiredness; Diarrhea; Nausea; Vomiting; Weakening of the pelvis bones; Vaginal dryness; Narrowing of the vagina.

The side effects usually disappear within a few weeks after finishing treatment. If radiation therapy is given in conjunction with chemotherapy, adverse reactions to treatment are more intense.

Chemotherapy for cancer in the vagina

Chemotherapy for cancer in the vagina uses drugs orally or directly into the vein, which can be cisplatin, fluorouracil or docetaxel, which will destroy cancer cells located in the vagina or spread throughout the body. It can be performed before surgery to reduce the size of the tumor and is the main treatment used to treat highly developed vagina cancers.

Chemotherapy not only attacks cancer cells, but also normal cells in the body, so side effects of chemotherapy for vagina cancer may arise, such as:

• Hair loss; Mouth sores; Lack of appetite; Nausea and vomiting; Diarrhea; Infections; Changes in the menstrual cycle; Infertility.

The severity of side effects depends on the medication used and the dosage, and they usually disappear within a few days after treatment.

Surgery for cancer in the vagina

Vaginal cancer surgery aims to remove the tumor located in the vagina so that it does not increase in size, or spread to the rest of the body.

There are several surgical procedures that can be performed such as:

• Local excision, which consists of the removal of the tumor and part of the healthy tissue from the vagina; Vaginectomy, which consists of the total or part removal of the vagina and is indicated for large tumors.

Sometimes it may be necessary to remove the uterus to prevent cancer from developing in this organ. Lymph nodes in the pelvic region must also be removed to prevent spread of cancer cells.

The recovery time from surgery varies from woman to woman, but it is important to rest and avoid having intimate contact during the healing time. In cases where there is total removal of the vagina, it can be reconstructed with excerpts of skin or another part of the body, which will allow the woman to have intercourse.

Generally, surgery followed by radiation therapy is sufficient to cure the disease.

Laser surgery for cancer in the vagina

Laser surgery for cancer in the vagina involves applying a high-energy beam of light over the spot where the cancer cells are located in the vagina. Generally, this treatment is effective in large lesions, however, it has no results in invasive cancer, that is, when it can spread to other organs.

Topical therapy for cancer in the vagina

Topical therapy for cancer in the vagina consists of the application of creams or gels directly on the tumor located in the vagina, in order to prevent the growth of the cancer and eliminate the cancer cells.

One of the drugs used in topical therapy is Fluorouracil, which can be applied directly to the vagina, once a week for about 10 weeks, or at night, for 1 or 2 weeks. Imiquimod is another medicine that can be used.

Side effects of topical vagina cancer therapy can be severe irritation of the vagina and vulva, dryness and redness. Although it is effective in some cancers, this treatment does not have as good results compared to surgery.