All types of cancer of the vagina can be treated; all are not curable.
Treatment for cancer of the vagina depends on the stage of the disease, the type
of disease and the patient's age and overall medical condition.
Most patients with cancer of the vagina will receive radiation
therapy as their main treatment. This treatment usually involves both
external and internal radiotherapy. External radiation is the delivery of high
energy radiation to a cancer and is similar to having an X-Ray. High energy
radiation is produced by different types of machines, the most common type being
a linear
accelerator.
Internal radiation therapy (otherwise known as brachytherapy) involves the
placement of radioactive material inside the body, into or near the cancer to be
treated. The radioactive material will be 'sealed', in the form of radioactive
wires or seeds implanted in the body.
More detailed information is provided in our section on radiotherapy.
Surgery has a fairly limited role in the treatment of cancer of the vagina.
When it is used, it is usually limited to patients with very early stage disease
who are relatively young and have easily removable tumours. In young women who
require radiation therapy, there is a place for a pre-radiation operation to
allow for the ovaries to be moved out of the pelvis and away from the area to be
radiated. This is done in an attempt to prevent the infertility often caused by
radiation therapy to the pelvis.
