Vagina is the entrance of reproductive organs. Other genitals such as womb and ovaries and organs in a body cannot be healthy unless you keep your vagina healthy. It is not common but vagina also can have a cancer.

An attack rate is low than other kinds of cancers but recurrence rate is very high so early discovery and prevention is very important. Let’s find out the major symptoms and preventive measure for vaginal cancer.

■ ‘Vagina’, an entrance of reproductive organs

Vagina is a 7 - 10cm pipe consist of muscle and membrane. Urethra and bladder is located on the front side and rectum is located on the back side. Vagina lets the blood out during the period and is to be a way for a baby coming out to the world. And here’s a gateway for having a baby.

Environment in vagina normally keeps pH level 3.8-4.5 and the reason for maintaining acidic environment of it is to block of inhabitation of invading virus and bacteria from outside through vagina. Beneficial bacteria, Lactobacillus transmute glycogen of vaginal epithelial cell into lactic acid resulting in pH balanced condition.

■ Vaginal lubrication washing external pollutants out

Vaginal lubrication lets vaginal mucous membrane moisturized. Vaginal lubrication comes from cervix, vagina and valval glands.

Vaginal lubrication changes its pH level, ingredients and viscosity depending on hormones’ change. For instance, when an ovulation day’s coming, vaginal lubrication’s acidity is the lowest to receive a sperm and glucose concentrations in the blood peaks the highest. Vaginal lubrication’s amount and characteristics differ from women and their menstruation cycle.

Vaginal lubrication protects body by washing external virus, germs and pollutants coming through vagina and it’s also a lubricant during intercourse.

■ Vaginal cancer patients over the age of 50 increased

Not commonly known but vagina also has cancer. It’s reported that a rate of vaginal cancer among cancer diseases is 2%.

Vaginal cancer occurs upper one-third part. When cancer occurs on the front part of vagina, it can metastasize urethra and bladder. When it occurs on the back part of vagina, it can metastasize to a surrounding lymphatic gland.

There are several kinds of vaginal cancer such as Squamous cell carcinomas, Melanoma, Sarcoma and adenocarcinoma. The most common vaginal cancer is Squamous cell carcinomas occupying 80-90%. It occurs on the skin or humid mucous membrane surface such as vagina, throat and inside of the mouth.

Vaginal cancer’s incidence rate is low but recurrence rate is high – 40% of recurrence is reported. Recurrence happens within 2 years after completing the treatment. Recurrence part is around vagina and pelvis. 76% of patients are over the age of 50 and their average is 69 years old.

■ Risk factor of vaginal cancer and major symptom

So far, the cause of vaginal cancer’s outbreak is not clearly revealed but precancer, the previous stage of cervical cancer and vulvar cancer is the riskiest factor of vaginal cancer.

Especially, if a woman experienced genital cancer such as cervical cancer, the outbreak risk of vaginal cancer is higher because vaginal cancer is also influenced by HPV (Human Papillomavirus) occurring cervical cancer. Rarely, anal cancer is also related to vaginal cancer and in addition, radiation exposure and smoking are also related.

In the beginning stage, there’s no symptom. The most common symptom of infiltrative vaginal cancer is painless vaginal bleeding and vaginal discharge increase.

■ Vaginal cancer self-check and preventative method

Vaginal cancer is diagnosed by biopsy which includes cervical pap test, pelvis test, colposcope test, imaging examination, and so on.

When the vaginal cancer is diagnosed, there are three treatments – surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Depending on the process of cancer, two types of treatment can be applied. At the very beginning stage, laser treatment can be used.

Vaginal cancer’s high risk group is recommended to have regular checkup for prevention. Especially, patients who removed uterus due to a malignant tumor should do regular cystoscopy.

Woman who had a hysterectomy is highly recommended to have regular checkup on every 3~5 years to prevent a vaginal cancer and they’d better to get vaccination and keep non-smoking.

※ Cystoscopy period for vaginal cancer’s high risk group

- Woman who experienced to treat a cervical malignant tumor: every year

- Woman who had a hysterectomy due to any other malignant tumor: 3~5 year