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Even with an annual Pap smear test and the new vaccination for young women, cervical cancer can’t be totally prevented. But there are some things you can do to reduce your risk of developing cancer of the cervix.
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Vaginal cancer is a relatively rare disorder, comprising about 2% to 3% of all gynecologic cancers. Approximately 2,400 women are diagnosed each year with vaginal cancer in the United States.
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The chance of getting ovarian cancer increases as a woman gets older. Ovarian cancer occurs in women over the age of 50 and the highest risk is in women over 60.
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Uterine cancer is the most common of all cancers in the female reproductive system. It can either form in the inner lining of the uterus or the outer layer of muscle tissue.
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Thought to be caused by a problem with the genetic information transmitted between an egg and sperm, molar pregnancy can develop during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Testimonials
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When Jan Holsclaw found out she had ovarian cancer, she was referred to Dr. Bigsby at Florida Hospital Cancer Institute for surgery and treatment. With reassuring words and...
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TV Personality Jan C. Garavaglia, M.D., (aka "Dr. G") is the chief medical examiner for the District Nine (Orange-Osceola) Medical Examiner's Office in Florida. When she... -
Bonnie has helped to raise millions of dollars for ovarian cancer research taking place at National Cancer Institute (NCI), Department of Defense (DOD), Centers for Disease...
Vaginal Cancer Facts
Causes of Vaginal Cancer
The root causes of vaginal cancer are not fully understood. What is understood are the risk factors that can increase your chances of getting the disease. These include:
- Being 60 years of age or older
- Being exposed to DES while in your mother’s womb
- Having a human papilloma virus infection
- Having a history of abnormal cells in the cervix or having cervical cancer
Signs of vaginal cancer include:
- Bleeding or discharge that isn’t related to your regular period
- Pain during intercourse
- Pelvic area pain
- A noticeable lump in the vagina
Vaginal Cancer Statistics
Most vaginal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, which begin in the thin flat cells that line the vagina. Another form of vaginal cancer is known as adencarcinoma, which begins in the glandular cells of the vagina.
Each year there are approximately 2,200 new cases of vaginal cancer and more than 750 women die each year from the disease. It accounts for only 2% to 3% of cancers of the female reproductive system.
When vaginal cancer is caught early the survival rate can be as high as 96%. In the later stages, the survival rate of women with squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinoma is a little less than 40%. Unfortunately the survival rate of the melanoma forms if vaginal cancer is less than 20%.