women s health issues
Vaginal Cancer
Diagnosis of Vaginal Cancer
Biopsy Doctors may suspect vaginal cancer based on symptoms, abnormal areas seen during a routine pelvic examination, or an abnormal Papanicolaou (Pap) test result. Doctors may use an instrument with a binocular magnifying lens ( Colposcopy ) to examine the vagina—a procedure called colposcopy. To confirm the diagnosis, doctors remove tissues from the vaginal wall to examine under a microscope (biopsy). They make sure to get tissue samples from any growth, sore, or other abnormal area seen during the examination. Other tests, such as use of a viewing tube (endoscopy) to examine the bladder or rectum, a chest x-ray, and computed tomography (CT), may be done to determine whether the cancer has spread. Doctors stage the cancer based on how far it has spread. Stages range from I (the earliest) to IV (advanced): Stage I: The cancer is confined to the vagina. Stage II: The cancer has spread through the wall of the vagina to nearby tissues but is still within the pelvis (which contains the internal reproductive organs, bladder, and rectum). Stage III: The cancer has spread throughout the pelvis and/or to lymph nodes and/or blocks the ureters and/or causes a kidney to malfunction Stage IV: The cancer has spread to the bladder or rectum or outside the pelvis (for example, to the lungs or bone). 