Vaginal Cancer Staging
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Vaginal Cancer Staging
Doctors use a combination of guidelines set forth by the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) and the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM system to stage vaginal cancers. Doctors use these guidelines to get an overall picture of the extent to which the cancer is affecting the body by taking into account a vaginal tumor's size, shape and spread.
The TNM system evaluates the size and extent of the tumor (T), the spread of the cancer to the lymph nodes (N), and whether or not the cancer has spread (M) to other sites, using the letter M to indicate metastasis. The combined summary of the categories TNM are reported as Stages 0-IV. The FIGO system, on the other hand, stages vaginal cancer based on the size and the extent of the tumor (T).
TNM Stage Grouping for Vaginal Cancer
The following are the TNM stage groupings for vaginal cancer:
Stage 0 Vaginal Cancer - Called carcinoma in situ (CIS), this cancer appears in the epithelium, the top cells lining the vagina. Women may also hear their doctors call this stage 3 vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN).
Stage I Vaginal Cancer - The cancer may have grown throughout the vagina, but it has not spread beyond the vagina. It has also not spread to the lymph nodes or other distant sites.
Stage II Vaginal Cancer - Doctors have discovered cancer in the connective tissue near the vagina. The disease has not spread to the wall of the pelvis or other areas of the body.
Stage III Vaginal Cancer - The vaginal cancer has spread to the walls of the pelvis and/or the nearby lymph nodes. No distant sites are affected by the cancer.
Stage IV Vaginal Cancer - In Stage IV, the cancer may or may not have spread to the lymph nodes. There are two ways to classify stage IV depending on where else in the body the cancer has spread to:
- Stage IVA - The cancer may be found in the bladder, rectum or other organs located next to the vagina, and possibly the lymph nodes. Distant organs or sites are not affected.
- Stage IVB - This is the most advanced stage, indicating the vaginal cancer has spread to distant sites elsewhere in the body, such as the lungs.
Staging Pre-Cancerous Vaginal Conditions
Vaginal Intraepithelial Neoplasia (VAIN) is a pre-cancerous condition that causes atypical cells in the epithelium. Doctors categorize this condition based on its overall progression towards an early-stage cancer diagnosis. Doctors track the progression in three stages: VAIN 1, VAIN 2, and VAIN 3. This system helps doctors determine when treatment is necessary.
In many cases VAIN 1 goes away without treatment, while VAIN 2 requires a topical therapy or laser treatment. The final progression, VAIN 3, is often diagnosed as carcinoma in situ (CIS) and treated as an early-stage vaginal cancer.
Treatment Possibilities for Vaginal Cancer at CTCA
At Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), we believe in patient-centered vaginal cancer treatment. That is why treatment at CTCA is guided by your preferences and needs.
When you're ready to learn more, call 800-615-3055 or Chat Now to talk with one of our Oncology Information Specialists. Our representatives are available 24 hours a day, every day of the week. We're ready to help, at any stage.
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