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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staff
In general, cancer begins when healthy cells acquire a genetic mutation that turns normal cells into abnormal cells. Healthy cells grow and multiply at a set rate, eventually dying at a set time. Cancer cells grow and multiply out of control, and they don't die. The accumulating abnormal cells form a mass (tumor). Cancer cells invade nearby tissues and can break off from an initial tumor to spread elsewhere in the body (metastasize).
The majority — 85 to 90 percent — of vaginal cancers begin in the squamous cells. These thin, flat cells line the surface of your vagina. Other less common types of vaginal cancer include:
- Vaginal adenocarcinoma, which begins in the glandular cells on the surface of your vagina
- Vaginal melanoma, which develops in the pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) of your vagina
- Vaginal sarcoma, which develops in the connective tissue cells or smooth muscles cells in the walls of your vagina
As is the case with many types of cancer, it isn't clear what causes the genetic mutation that leads to vaginal cancer.
- Detailed guide: Vaginal cancer. American Cancer Society. http://documents.cancer.org/5016.00/5016.00.pdf. Accessed Aug. 25, 2008.
- Elkas JC, et al. Vaginal cancer. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 25, 2008.
- Holschneider CH, et al. Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 25, 2008.
- Benefits of good nutrition. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MBC/content/MBC_6_2X_Benefits_of_nutrition_during_treatment.asp?sitearea=MBC. Accessed Aug. 24, 2008.
- FDA Approves Expanded Uses for Gardasil to Include Preventing Certain Vulvar and Vaginal Cancers. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01885.html. Accessed Oct. 15, 2008.
- USPPI Patient Information about GARDASIL. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. www.fda.gov/cber/label/gardasilppi.pdf. Accessed Oct. 15, 2008.
