vaginal cancer

Hi - I was just diagnosed with vaginal cancer on Monday - I was basically stunned when my doctor told me and I really don't remember all that was said - I do know that it is Stage I. I go see an oncologist on 06/22/05. Has anyone ever experienced this? What can I expect as far as surgery goes? Thanks!

Hi InaM,

I was diagnosed with vaginal cancer in Feb. 2003. My stage was higher than yours, so your treatment may not be as radical as mine. I had a radical hysterectomy, a partial vaginectomy, several lymphnodes removed, and an appendectomy for good measure.

I also had 25 external radiation treatments and three high-dose internal radiation treatments.

The good news is that I am in complete remission. My Doc says I will be around for many more years.

Vaginal cancer is very rare. There are no true standard treatments for it. What your treatment will be will depend on your Oncologist. Is the Oncologist you are seeing a Gynecological Oncolgist? If not, I would request to see one. They are the experts.

Stage I is very early. I know you can beat this. Good luck. If you have any questions please feel free to post them here or send me a PM. I was very alone during my treatment. I had not yet found hystersisters and there are no support groups for vaginal cancer. We are special because we are so rare.

Ladies, I feel for you, with your lack of support groups. You have each other, though, and this website.

What are the symptoms that each of you had for vag. cancer? I'm scared to death that since I had radiation treatments (pelvic), I'm gonna get another cancer down the road from the rad. But, I'm scared of many things like that!

I remember a Hystersister who had vag cancer about three years ago, and I think she said there was a lesion in the vagina, and she had lots of bleeding.

I know there are more on here who have had vag. cancer. You will find them, I'm sure.

I didn't have any symptoms. I went for my annual pap and it came back with an abnormal cell reading. My family doctor suggested that I wait six months, but my family urged me not to. I went to a gyn and had a colposcopy and biopsies. That is the only way that we knew.

Hi I also was diagnosed with vaginal Cancer 6 weeks ago.
I also was stunned thinking that after a hysterectomy 17 years ago nothing else could happen.
I have been to an oncologist and I am scheduled for a colonoscopy next week . I have been told that I will be having radiotherapy and a little chemo to try and shrink the tumour. is anyone else already been through this I would like to know how they went

I have been reading some of the messages and I am grateful to find people who have been through this, helps a lot.
I only found out as I started to have heavy bleeding at work which is at a hospital and as I already had a hysterectomy 17 years previously i panicked .
I went to a gynie who did the biopsy and called me to tell me it was cancer.
I am having positive thoughts .
Did you lose your hair with the radiotherapy and how do they do the internal one I have not started treatment yet.