Contents:
- Medical Video: Detecting Vaginal Cancer
- Is a lump in the vagina always a sign of cancer?
- Not all lumps in the vagina are a sign of cancer
Medical Video: Detecting Vaginal Cancer
When you are showering or shaving your hair, you may notice a lump in the vagina. During this time you are always taught to be aware that any lumps that arise in the genital area can be dangerous. Could this vaginal lump be a sign of cancer? Because, most symptoms of cancer are preceded by the appearance of a lump.
Is a lump in the vagina always a sign of cancer?
A lump in the vagina can be a sign of vulvar cancer. Vulvar cancer is a cancer that attacks the outside of the vagina (vulva). This area includes the front of the vagina, vaginal lips (labia), clitoris, and skin and tissue covering the pubic bone. One sign is a wart similar to a lump that grows on the vulva or in the labia. This lump is basically a tumor.
A lump in the vagina can be said to be a cancerous tumor if it continues to develop rapidly and is accompanied by pain during intercourse and urination. Cancerous lumps should also be followed by the following signs: bleeding after intercourse, changes in skin color, itching and burning on the skin of the vagina that lasts long, abnormal discharge of vaginal discharge, and pain in the pelvis.
Other symptoms that commonly occur if the vulvar cancer is at an advanced stage include constipation, urine mixed with blood, back and forth urination, and vaginal bleeding after menopause (for elderly women).
Not all lumps in the vagina are a sign of cancer
The possibility of a lump that you find in the vagina is a cancerous tumor. Vulvar cancer is a rare cancer, only occupying 3-4% of total cancer cases of female reproductive organs. This type of cancer is slow skin cancer, it takes years to develop.
However, there are actually various other things that can cause the appearance of a lump in the vagina other than cancer. For example, genital warts due to sexually transmitted diseases such as genital herpes, syphilis, or HPV; common skin inflammation such as eczema and vulvovaginitis; to benign (non-cancerous) cysts.
To be more safe, you should immediately consult a doctor about a lump in your vagina or if you have signs and symptoms of vulvar cancer as mentioned above. The faster the cancer is detected, the higher the chance of success in treatment and recovery.
