Vaginal Cancer - How To Identify It?

Generally identified as a rare and uncommon phenomenon, vaginal cancer most often occurs in the cells present in the outer lining of the vagina, also called the birth canal. Although primary vaginal cancer is rare and unusual, there are various other types of vaginal cancer that originate elsewhere in the body but have spread over to your vagina.

Depending upon the nature of origin, vaginal cancer can be divided into the following types:

1. Vaginal adenocarcinoma, beginning in the glandular cells on the surface of your vagina
2. Vaginal sarcoma, developing in the connective tissue cells and multiple cells lining the walls of your vagina
3. Vaginal squamous cell carcinoma, originates in the squamous cells lining the surface of the bacteria
4. Vaginal melanoma, developing in melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells in your vagina

Symptoms

As vaginal cancer progresses from one stage to the next, you may experience any one of the following signs and symptoms:

1. Diluted, watery vaginal discharge
2. Painful urination
3. Constipation
4. Odd cases of vaginal bleeding, for instance, after menopause or after intercourse
5. Formation of lumps in your vagina
6. Frequent and regular urination
7. Pelvic pain

Causes

Normally, cancer develops when healthy cells undergo genetic mutations, subsequently leading to the uncontrollable growth of abnormal cells. Cancer cells are known to break off from pre-existing tumors and can easily spread everywhere, in what is referred to as metastasize.

Beyond the natural process of development, here are a few factors which may further contribute to the growth of cancerous cells:

1. Increasing age
2. Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia
3. Exposure  to miscarriage prevention drugs