Vaginal Cancer Treatment Cost in India

Vaginal cancer is an uncommon disease in which cancer cells grow from the cells of the vaginal lining. The vagina is a tube that connects the vulva (external female genitals) to the cervix (lower end of the uterus). The vagina is also called the “birth canal.”

Cancer occurs when cells in the body (in this case, vaginal cells) divide without control or order. Normally, cells divide in a regulated manner. If cells keep dividing uncontrollably when new cells are not needed, a mass of tissue, called a growth or tumor, forms. The term cancer refers to malignant tumors, which can invade nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the body. A benign tumor does not invade or spread.

There are several types of vaginal cancer:

  • Squamous cell carcinoma—occurs in the lining of the vagina
  • Adenocarcinoma—occurs in the area of the vagina lined with cells similar to those in the glands of the cervix and uterus
    • A special type of this cancer, called clear cell adenocarcinoma, occurs in women who were exposed to a drug called diethylstilbestrol (DES) while in their mother’s womb. This drug was introduced in the late 1930s and no longer used after 1971, so the incidence of this particular type of adenocarcinoma is expected to decline.
  • Melanoma—usually affects lower or outer portion of the vagina
  • Sarcoma—forms deep in the walls of the vagina, not on the surface

Vaginal Cancer

Causes

The exact cause of stomach cancer is not known. There are, however, several well-known risk factors that contribute to the development of stomach cancer.

Risk Factors

A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition. The risk factors for stomach cancer include:

  • Age: over 50
  • Gender: twice as common in men
  • Geography: Japan, Korea, parts of Eastern Europe, and Latin America experience higher rates
  • Race: higher rates in Hispanics and African-Americans
  • Helicobacter pylori infection
  • Diet
    • High intake of smoked, salted, pickled food and meat, high starch/low fiber foods
    • Low intake of certain vegetables (eg, garlic scallions, onions, chives, leeks)
  • Smoking
  • Alcohol abuse
  • Previous stomach surgery
  • Pernicious anemia
  • Ménétrier disease (a disease that causes large folds in the stomach lining)
  • Barrett’s esophagitis
  • Blood type A
  • Familial cancer syndromes: hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer and familial adenomatous polyposis
  • Family history of stomach cancer
  • Stomach polyps

Symptoms

If you have any of these symptoms, do not assume it is due to stomach cancer. These symptoms may be caused by other conditions. Tell your doctor if you have any of these:

  • Indigestion, heartburn
  • Abdominal pain or vague abdominal discomfort
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Diarrhea or constipation
  • Stomach bloating or sense of fullness after eating
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weakness, fatigue
  • Bleeding in vomit or stool
  • Stool that has turned black or tarry
  • Unintended weight loss
  • Fluid swelling in abdomen

In some cases, there may not be symptoms.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. She will also do a physical exam. Diagnostic tests may include:

  • Blood tests
  • Fecal occult blood test —to check for blood in the stool
  • Upper GI series —a series of x-rays of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum (the first part of the small intestine)
  • Endoscopy —a test that uses a fiberoptic scope to examine the esophagus (throat), stomach, and upper part of the small intestines
  • Biopsy —removal of a sample of stomach tissue to test for cancer
  • Ultrasound —a test that uses sound waves to examine the stomach
  • CT scan —a type of x-ray that uses a computer to make pictures of structures inside the stomach
  • PET scan —a test makes images that show activity in body tissues

Treatment

Stomach cancer is most often detected in the later stages. Stomach cancer is treated based on the location, size, stage, and extent of disease. Treatment options for stomach cancer include:

Surgery

Surgery is the most common treatment for stomach cancer. The type of surgery depends on the stage of the disease. There are three types of stomach surgery that may be done:

  • Endoscopic mucosal resection—This surgery is generally done in the early stages where the tumor is removed through an endoscope.
  • Subtotal gastrectomy—This is the removal of the lower part of the stomach, leaving part of the stomach to reattached to the esophagus and small intestine.
  • Total gastrectomy—This is the removal of the entire stomach. It often includes removal of nearby lymph nodes. The esophagus is attached directly to the small intestine.

Radiation Therapy

This is the use of high-energy rays to kill or shrink cancer cells. Radiation therapymay be used after surgery to destroy cancer cells that could not be seen or removed during surgery.

Combined Treatment

In cases where stomach cancer has spread, chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy may increase the risk of survival and reduce the risk of cancer returning. Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. It may be given in many forms including: pill, injection, or via a catheter. The drugs enter the bloodstream and travel through the body killing mostly cancer cells, but also some healthy cells.

Prevention

The rate of stomach cancer has declined over the past 60 years due in large part to dietary factors. The change from salting and pickling foods to refrigerating foods for preservation is thought to have played a large role in this decrease. Prevention includes:

  • Avoid diets high in salted, pickled, and smoked foods.
  • Eat at least five servings of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods a day.
  • Limit red meat intake.
  • Do not smoke.
  • Do not drink alcohol.
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