Vaginal cancer most commonly begins in the thin, flat squamous cells that line the surface of the vagina. Other types of vaginal cancer may occur in other cells on the surface of the vagina or in the deeper layers of tissue.
Risk factors
Certain factors may raise your risk of vaginal cancer, including:
• Atypical cells in the vagina. Women with vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) have an increased risk of vaginal cancer. In women with VAIN, cells in the vagina appear different from normal cells, but not different enough to be considered cancer. A small number of women with VAIN will eventually develop vaginal cancer, though doctors aren’t sure what causes some cases to develop into cancer and other cases to remain benign.
• Exposure to miscarriage prevention drug. Women whose mothers took a drug called diethylstilbestrol (DES) while pregnant may have an increased risk of a certain type of vaginal cancer called clear cell adenocarcinoma. DES was used in the 1950s to prevent miscarriage in early pregnancy.
• Human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that can increase the risk of vaginal cancer and other cancers. HPV causes the majority of cervical cancers and precancerous changes in the cervix. Even if you’ve had your uterus and ovaries removed (hysterectomy), you may still have an increased risk of vaginal cancer if you have HPV. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a vaccine to prevent HPV in 2006.
• Previous gynecologic cancer. Women who’ve been treated for a different gynecologic cancer, especially cervical cancer, may have an increased risk of vaginal cancer.
Other risk factors that have been linked to an increased risk of vaginal cancer include:
• Multiple sexual partners
• Early age at first intercourse
• Smoking
When to seek medical advice
See your doctor if you have any unusual signs and symptoms, such as abnormal vaginal bleeding. Vaginal cancer is more easily treated when discovered at an early stage. Since vaginal cancer doesn’t always cause signs and symptoms, follow your doctor’s recommendations about when you should have routine pelvic exams.
Screening and diagnosis
Screening
While there is no general screening test for vaginal cancer, it is sometimes detected during a routine pelvic exam before any signs and symptoms become evident. During a pelvic exam, your doctor carefully inspects the outer part of your vagina, and then inserts two fingers of one hand into your vagina and simultaneously presses the other hand on your abdomen to feel your uterus and ovaries. He or she also inserts a device called a speculum into your vagina. The speculum widens your vagina so that your doctor can check your vagina and cervix for abnormalities.
Your doctor usually also conducts a pap test to screen for cervical cancer, but sometimes vaginal cancer cells can be detected on a pap test. Pap tests and pelvic exams are generally recommended every three years. How often you undergo these screenings depends on your risk factors for cancer and whether you’ve had abnormal pap tests in the past. Talk to your doctor about whether you should have this health screening.
Diagnosis
Based on any signs and symptoms you have, your doctor may conduct a pelvic exam and pap test to check for abnormalities that may indicate vaginal cancer. Based on those findings, your doctor may conduct other procedures to determine whether you have vaginal cancer, such as:
• Colposcopy. Colposcopy is an examination of your vagina with a special lighted microscope called a colposcope. Colposcopy allows your doctor to magnify the surface of your vagina to see any areas of abnormal cells.
• Biopsy. Biopsy is a procedure to remove a sample of suspicious tissue to test for cancer cells. Your doctor may take a biopsy of tissue during a colposcopy exam. Your doctor sends the tissue sample to a laboratory for testing.
Staging
Once your doctor diagnoses vaginal cancer, he or she takes steps to determine the extent of the cancer — a process called staging. The stage of your cancer helps your doctor decide what treatments are appropriate for you. In order to determine the stage of your cancer, your doctor may use:
• Biopsy. Tissue samples from your cervix or vulva may show whether cancer has spread to those areas.
• Imaging tests. Your doctor may order imaging tests to determine whether cancer has spread. Imaging tests may include X-rays, computerized tomography (CT) scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
• Tiny cameras to see inside your body. Procedures that use tiny cameras to see inside your body may help your doctor determine if cancer has spread to certain areas. Cameras help your doctor see inside your bladder (cystoscopy) and your rectum (proctoscopy).
Once your doctor determines the extent of your cancer, he or she assigns your cancer a stage. The stages of vaginal cancer are:
• Stage I. Cancer is limited to the vaginal wall.
• Stage II. Cancer has spread to tissue next to the vagina.
• Stage III. Cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, or to the pelvic wall or both.
• Stage IVA. Cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, and has also spread to bladder, rectum or pelvis.
• Stage IVB. Cancer has spread to areas away from the vagina, such as the lungs.

As part of the pelvic examination, your physician will insert two gloved fingers inside your vagina. While simultaneously pressing down on your abdomen, he or she can examine your uterus, ovaries and other organs.
Complications
Vaginal cancer that progresses may spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body. Vaginal cancer most commonly spreads to the lungs, the liver and the pelvic bones.
Treatment
Your treatment options for vaginal cancer depend on several factors, including the type of vaginal cancer you have and its stage. Because vaginal cancer is rare, no standard treatment guidelines have been developed. You and your doctor work together to determine what treatments are best for you based on your goals of treatment and the side effects you’re willing to endure. Treatment for vaginal cancer typically includes surgery and radiation.
Surgery
Surgery to remove the cancer from your body is primarily used for early-stage vaginal cancer that’s limited to the vagina or, in selected cases, nearby tissue. Because many important organs are located in your pelvis, surgery to remove larger tumors would require removal of these organs. For this reason, your doctor may attempt to control your cancer through other treatment methods first. Types of surgery that may be used in women with vaginal cancer include:
• Removal of small tumors or lesions. Cancer limited to the surface of the vagina may be cut away using a scalpel or a laser. Your surgeon may also remove a small amount of healthy tissue to ensure that all of the cancer cells have been removed.
• Removal of the vagina (vaginectomy). Removing part of the vagina (partial vaginectomy) or the entire vagina (radical vaginectomy) may be necessary to remove all of the cancer. Depending on the extent of your cancer, your surgeon may recommend surgery to remove your uterus and ovaries (hysterectomy) and nearby lymph nodes (lymphadenectomy) at the same time as your vaginectomy.
• Removal of the majority of the pelvic organs (pelvic exenteration). This extensive surgery may be an option if cancer has spread throughout your pelvic area or if your vaginal cancer has recurred. During pelvic exenteration, the surgeon removes many of the organs in the pelvic area, including the bladder, ovaries, uterus, vagina, rectum and the lower portion of the colon. Openings are created in your abdomen to allow urine (urostomy) and waste (colostomy) to exit your body and collect in ostomy bags.
If your vagina is completely removed, you may choose to undergo surgery to construct a new vagina. Surgeons use pieces of skin, sections of intestine or flaps of muscle from other areas of your body to form a new vagina. With some adjustments, a reconstructed vagina allows you to have vaginal intercourse. However, a reconstructed vagina won’t be the same as your own vagina. For instance, a reconstructed vagina lacks natural lubrication and creates a different sensation when touched due to changes in surrounding nerves.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is the most common treatment for vaginal cancers. Radiation therapy uses high-powered energy beams to kill cancer cells. Radiation can be delivered two ways:
• External radiation. External beam radiation is directed at your entire abdomen or just your pelvis, depending on the extent of your cancer. During external beam radiation, you’re positioned on a table and a large radiation machine is maneuvered around you in order to target the treatment area. Nearly everyone with vaginal cancer receives external beam radiation.
• Internal radiation. During internal radiation (brachytherapy), devices containing radiation — radioactive seeds, wires, cylinders or other materials — are placed in your vagina or the surrounding tissue. After a set number of days, the devices are removed. Women with very early stage vaginal cancer may receive internal radiation only. Other women may receive internal radiation after undergoing external radiation.
Radiation therapy kills quickly growing cancer cells, but it may also damage nearby healthy cells, causing side effects. Side effects of radiation depend on the radiation’s intensity and where it’s aimed. Complications include bladder irritation, inflammation of the lining of the rectum, narrowing of the vagina, thinning of the lining of the vagina, premature menopause and infertility.
Other options
If surgery and radiation can’t control your cancer, you may be offered other treatments, including:
• Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses chemicals to kill cancer cells. It isn’t clear whether chemotherapy is useful in women with vaginal cancer. Some small studies have had mixed results. Chemotherapy may be used during radiation therapy to enhance the effectiveness of radiation.
• Clinical trials. Clinical trials are experiments to test new treatment methods. While a clinical trial gives you a chance to try the latest treatment advances, a cure isn’t guaranteed. Discuss available clinical trials with your doctor to better understand your options.
Prevention
No sure way to prevent vaginal cancer exists. However, you can increase the chance that vaginal cancer is discovered early by having routine pelvic exams and pap tests. When discovered in its earliest stages, vaginal cancer is more likely to be cured. Doctors recommend women receive pelvic exams and pap tests soon after they’ve begun having sexual intercourse or by age 21. Ask your doctor how often you need to have pelvic exams and pap tests.
Coping
Each woman with cancer deals with her diagnosis in her own way. You might want to surround yourself with friends and family, or you may ask for time alone to sort through your thoughts. The shock and confusion of your diagnosis may leave you feeling lost and unsure of yourself. To help you cope, try to:
• Learn everything you want to about your cancer. Write down the questions you have and ask them at the next appointment with your doctor. Get a friend or family member to come to appointments with you to take notes. Ask your health care team for further sources of information. The more you know about your condition, the better prepared you’ll be to make decisions about your treatment. Contact the National Cancer Institute for information online or by telephone at 800-4-CANCER, or 800-422-6237. The American Cancer Society also offers support and information on its Web site and by telephone at 800-ACS-2345, or 800-227-2345.
• Maintain intimacy with your partner. Vaginal cancer treatments are likely to cause side effects that make sexual intimacy more difficult for you and your partner. If treatment makes sex painful or temporarily impossible, try to find new ways of maintaining intimacy. Spending quality time together and having meaningful conversations are ways to build your emotional intimacy. When you’re ready for physical intimacy, take it slowly. If sexual side effects of your cancer treatment are hurting your relationship with your partner, talk to your doctor. He or she may offer ways to cope with sexual side effects and may refer you to a specialist.
• Create a support network. Having friends and family around you and supporting you can be valuable. You may find it helps to have someone to talk to about your emotions. Other sources of support include social workers and psychologists — ask your doctor for a referral if you feel like you need someone to talk to. Talk with your pastor, rabbi or other spiritual leader. Other people with cancer can offer a unique perspective, so consider joining a support group — whether it’s in your community or online. Contact the American Cancer Society for more information on support groups.
• Take time for yourself when you need it. Let people know when you want to be alone. Quiet time to think or write in a journal can help you sort out emotions.
Last Updated: 11/13/2006
© 1998-2007 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. “Mayo,” “Mayo Clinic,” “MayoClinic.com,” “Mayo Clinic Health Information,” “Reliable information for a healthier life” and the triple-shield Mayo logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

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Revised: 07/21/2006

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This book has been created for patients who have decided to make education and research an integral part of the treatment process. Although it also gives information useful to doctors, caregivers and other health professionals, it tells patients where and how to look for information covering virtually all topics related to vaginal cancer (also Adenocarcinoma of the vagina; Bowen’s disease; Cancer vagina; Endodermal sinus tumor; Melanoma of the vagina; Sarcoma of the vagina), from the essentials to the most advanced areas of research. The title of this book includes the word official. This reflects the fact that the sourcebook draws from public, academic, government, and peer-reviewed research. Selected readings from various agencies are reproduced to give you some of the latest official information available to date on vaginal cancer. Given patients’ increasing sophistication in using the Internet, abundant references to reliable Internet-based resources are provided throughout this sourcebook. Where possible, guidance is provided on how to obtain free-of-charge, primary research results as well as more detailed information via the Internet. E-book and electronic versions of this sourcebook are fully interactive with each of the Internet sites mentioned (clicking on a hyperlink automatically opens your browser to the site indicated). Hard-copy users of this sourcebook can type cited Web addresses directly into their browsers to obtain access to the corresponding sites. In addition to extensive references accessible via the Internet, chapters include glossaries of technical or uncommon terms.

Overview
Dr. C. Everett Koop, former U.S. Surgeon General, once said, “The best prescription is knowledge.” The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) echoes this view and recommends that every patient incorporate education into the treatment process. According to the AHRQ:
Since the late 1990s, physicians have seen a general increase in patient Internet usage rates. Patients frequently enter their doctor’s offices with printed Web pages of home remedies in the guise of latest medical research. This scenario is so common that doctors often spend more time dispelling misleading information than guiding patients through sound therapies. The Official Patient’s Sourcebook on Vaginal Cancer has been created for patients who have decided to make education and research an integral part of the treatment process. The pages that follow will tell you where and how to look for information covering virtually all topics related to vaginal cancer, from the essentials to the most advanced areas of research.
The title of this book includes the word “official.” This reflects the fact that the sourcebook draws from public, academic, government, and peer-reviewed research. Selected readings from various agencies are reproduced to give you some of the latest official information available to date on vaginal cancer.
Given patients’ increasing sophistication in using the Internet, abundant references to reliable Internet-based resources are provided throughout this sourcebook. Where possible, guidance is provided on how to obtain free-of-charge, primary research results as well as more detailed information via the Internet. E-book and electronic versions of this sourcebook are fully interactive with each of the Internet sites mentioned (clicking on a hyperlink automatically opens your browser to the site indicated). Hard copy users of this sourcebook can type cited Web addresses directly into their browsers to obtain access to the corresponding sites. Since we are working with ICON Health Publications, hard copy Sourcebooks are frequently updated and printed on demand to ensure that the information provided is current.
In addition to extensive references accessible via the Internet, every chapter presents a “Vocabulary Builder.” Many health guides offer glossaries of technical or uncommon terms in an appendix. In editing this sourcebook, we have decided to place a smaller glossary within each chapter that covers terms used in that chapter. Given the technical nature of some chapters, you may need to revisit many sections. Building one’s vocabulary of medical terms in such a gradual manner has been shown to improve the learning process.
We must emphasize that no sourcebook on vaginal cancer should affirm that a specific diagnostic procedure or treatment discussed in a research study, patent, or doctoral dissertation is “correct” or your best option. This sourcebook is no exception. Each patient is unique. Deciding on appropriate options is always up to the patient in consultation with their physician and healthcare providers.
Organization
This sourcebook is organized into three parts. Part I explores basic techniques to researching vaginal cancer (e.g. finding guidelines on diagnosis, treatments, and prognosis), followed by a number of topics, including information on how to get in touch with organizations, associations, or other patient networks dedicated to vaginal cancer. It also gives you sources of information that can help you find a doctor in your local area specializing in treating vaginal cancer. Collectively, the material presented in Part I is a complete primer on basic research topics for patients with vaginal cancer.
Part II moves on to advanced research dedicated to vaginal cancer. Part II is intended for those willing to invest many hours of hard work and study. It is here that we direct you to the latest scientific and applied research on vaginal cancer. When possible, contact names, links via the Internet, and summaries are provided. It is in Part II where the vocabulary process becomes important as authors publishing advanced research frequently use highly specialized language. In general, every attempt is made to recommend “free-to-use” options.
Part III provides appendices of useful background reading for all patients with vaginal cancer or related disorders. The appendices are dedicated to more pragmatic issues faced by many patients with vaginal cancer. Accessing materials via medical libraries may be the only option for some readers, so a guide is provided for finding local medical libraries which are open to the public. Part III, therefore, focuses on advice that goes beyond the biological and scientific issues facing patients with vaginal cancer.
Scope
While this sourcebook covers vaginal cancer, your doctor, research publications, and specialists may refer to your condition using a variety of terms. Therefore, you should understand that vaginal cancer is often considered a synonym or a condition closely related to the following:
• Adenocarcinoma of the Vagina
• Bowen’s Disease
• Cancer Vagina
• Endodermal Sinus Tumor
• Melanoma of the Vagina
• Sarcoma of the Vagina
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Vagina
• Tumor Vaginal
• Vaginal Cancer
• Vaginal Intraepithelial Neoplasia
In addition to synonyms and related conditions, physicians may refer to vaginal cancer using certain coding systems. The International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) is the most commonly used system of classification for the world’s illnesses. Your physician may use this coding system as an administrative or tracking tool. The following classification is commonly used for vaginal cancer:
• 184.0 malignant neoplasm of the vagina
• 184.0 vagina, vaginal neoplasm
• 184.0 vaginal cancer
For the purposes of this sourcebook, we have attempted to be as inclusive as possible, looking for official information for all of the synonyms relevant to vaginal cancer. You may find it useful to refer to synonyms when accessing databases or interacting with healthcare professionals and medical librarians.
Moving Forward
Since the 1980s, the world has seen a proliferation of healthcare guides covering most illnesses. Some are written by patients or their family members. These generally take a layperson’s approach to understanding and coping with an illness or disorder. They can be uplifting, encouraging, and highly supportive. Other guides are authored by physicians or other healthcare providers who have a more clinical outlook. Each of these two styles of guide has its purpose and can be quite useful.
As editors, we have chosen a third route. We have chosen to expose you to as many sources of official and peer-reviewed information as practical, for the purpose of educating you about basic and advanced knowledge as recognized by medical science today. You can think of this sourcebook as your personal Internet age reference librarian.
Why “Internet age”? All too often, patients diagnosed with vaginal cancer will log on to the Internet, type words into a search engine, and receive several Web site listings which are mostly irrelevant or redundant. These patients are left to wonder where the relevant information is, and how to obtain it. Since only the smallest fraction of information dealing with vaginal cancer is even indexed in search engines, a non-systematic approach often leads to frustration and disappointment. With this sourcebook, we hope to direct you to the information you need that you would not likely find using popular Web directories. Beyond Web listings, in many cases we will reproduce brief summaries or abstracts of available reference materials. These abstracts often contain distilled information on topics of discussion.
While we focus on the more scientific aspects of vaginal cancer, there is, of course, the emotional side to consider. Later in the sourcebook, we provide a chapter dedicated to helping you find peer groups and associations that can provide additional support beyond research produced by medical science. We hope that the choices we have made give you the most options available in moving forward. In this way, we wish you the best in your efforts to incorporate this educational approach into your treatment plan.

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Statistics
Vaginal cancer is rare. In the United States, approximately 2,160 new cases of vaginal cancer are expected to be diagnosed, and an estimated 790 women will die of the disease in 2004.
Cancer statistics should be interpreted with caution. These estimates are based on data from thousands of cases of this type of cancer in the United States and may not apply to a single person. It is not possible to tell a person how long she will live with vaginal cancer. Because the survival statistics are measured in five-year (or sometimes one-year) intervals, they may not represent advances made in the treatment or diagnosis of this cancer.
There are several types of vaginal cancers:
Squamous Carcinoma - Squamous cell cancer starts in the vagina’s epithelial lining, most often in the area closest to the cervix. Squamous cancers make up 85 to 90 percent of vaginal cancers. It develops slowly through pre-cancerous changes called vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN).
Adenocarcinoma - This cancer may develop in tissues of vaginal glands. It accounts for 5 to 10 percent of vaginal cancers
Clear Cell Adenocarcinoma - This cancer occurs in young women whose mothers took the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES) during pregnancy between the late 1940’s and 1971. About one woman in 1,000 exposed to DES develops vaginal cancer.
Melanoma - Melanomas are the most serious type of skin cancer. They are usually found on skin exposed to the sun, but can begin on the skin of the vagina or other internal organs. Dark-colored tumors appear on the lower or outer parts of the vagina.
There are two types of cancer of the vagina: squamous cell cancer (squamous carcinoma) and adenocarcinoma. Squamous carcinoma is usually found in women between the ages of 60 and 80. Adenocarcinoma is more often found in women between the ages of 12 and 30.

Young women whose mothers took DES (diethylstilbestrol) are at risk for getting tumors in their vaginas. Some of them get a rare form of cancer called clear cell adenocarcinoma. The drug DES was given to pregnant women between 1945 and 1970 to keep them from losing their babies (miscarriage).

A doctor should be seen if there are any of the following:
• Bleeding or discharge not related to menstrual periods.
• Difficult or painful urination.
• Pain during intercourse or in the pelvic area.
• Also, there is still a chance of developing vaginal cancer in women who have had a hysterectomy.
A doctor may use several tests to see if there is cancer. The doctor will usually begin by giving the patient an internal (pelvic) examination. The doctor will feel for lumps and will then do a Pap smear. Using a piece of cotton, a brush, or a small wooden stick, the doctor will gently scrape the outside of the cervix and vagina in order to pick up cells. Some pressure may be felt, but usually with no pain.

If cells that are not normal are found, the doctor will need to cut a small sample of tissue (called a biopsy) out of the vagina and look at it under a microscope to see if there are any cancer cells. The doctor should look not only at the vagina, but also at the other organs in the pelvis to see where the cancer started and where it may have spread. The doctor may take an x-ray of the chest to make sure the cancer has not spread to the lungs.

The chance of recovery (prognosis) and choice of treatment depend on the stage of the cancer (whether it is just in the vagina or has spread to other places) and the patient’s general state of health.

As we well know, there are many kinds of cancer; unfortunately they all come about because of the out-of-control growth of abnormal cells.

Healthy Cells vs. Cancer Cells
Healthy cells are like a cat. They need structure to determine the size of bones and shape of the body, tail and whiskers. The DNA in genes and chromosomes determine this. They need energy to play and prowl and sustain life. This is derived from chemicals in food. Cats need a system to deliver chemicals (food nutrients like amino acids, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals) to all parts of their body. These are the blood vessels. Growth factors take a kitten into a lazy old cat, all the while helping it to function normally.
The body and its cells are mostly made up of protein. The building blocks of proteins are substances called amino acids that in the form of enzymes and hormones literally control every chemical reaction within the cells. When these are modified, different messages are sent to a complex control system that can alter their function. There are twenty different kinds of amino acids that are essential to life. Twelve of these can be synthesized within the body however; eight must be supplied by the daily diet.
Structure
Normal Cells Cancer Cells
DNA in genes and chromosomes go about their business in a normal way. Cancer cells develop a different DNA or gene structure or acquire abnormal numbers of chromosomes.
Cells divide in an orderly way to produce more cells only when the body needs them. Cells continue to be created without control or order. If not needed, a mass of tissue is formed which is called a tumor.
Energy
Normal Cells Cancer Cells
Cells derive 70% of their energy from a system called the “Krebs Cycle.” Cells have a defective “Krebs Cycle” and derive little or no energy from it.
Cells derive only 20% of their energy from a system called “Glycolosis.” Cancer cells derive almost all their energy from “Glycolosis.”
Cells derive most of their energy with the use of oxygen. Cells derive most of their energy in the absence of oxygen.
Blood Vessels
Normal Cells Cancer Cells
Cells have a built-in blood vessel system. Cells do not have a built-in blood vessel system. They require more of certain amino acids to grow.

Growth Factors
Normal Cells Cancer Cells
While similar to cancer cells, the amount of them is more in balance to produce a more normal level of activity. These cells have over produced, require more chemicals (food) and are over active.
Functions
Normal Cells Cancer Cells
The enzymes and hormones go about business in a normal balanced manner. The enzymes and hormones are either over active or under active.
Tumors are Different
Benign Malignant
Benign tumors are not cancerous. They do not invade nearby tissues nor spread to other parts of the body. They can be removed and are not a threat to life. Malignant tumors are cancerous. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs and they can break away and enter the blood stream to form new tumors in other parts of the body. The spread of cancer is called metastasis.
RISK FACTORS

Even though the exact cause of vaginal cancer is not known, researchers have determined that the following factors increase a woman’s chance of developing the disease:
Age. Squamous carcinoma most often occurs in women between 50 and 70 years old; approximately half of all cases are diagnosed in women over age 60.
Smoking. Cigarette smoking places women at increased risk of vaginal cancer.
DES. Daughters whose mothers took the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES) during their pregnancy between the late 1940s and 1971 are at increased risk of clear cell adenocarcinoma. The average age of diagnosis is 19 years old. Since most daughters of mothers who took DES are between 30 and 60, the number of cases has declined. However, doctors do not know how long women are at risk of developing DES-caused cancers.
Cervical cancer. Women who have had cervical cancer or cervical precancerous conditions are at increased risk of vaginal cancer.
Radiation therapy. Women who have had radiation therapy in the vaginal area are at increased risk of vaginal cancer.
Hysterectomy. Women who have had a hysterectomy (removal of part or all of the uterus) are at increased risk of vaginal cancer.
HPV infection. Women with genital warts caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) are at increased risk of vaginal cancer. HPV infection is transmitted through sexual intercourse. High-risk sexual behavior that can lead to HPV infection includes intercourse at an early age, multiple sexual partners, sex with a person who has had many partners, and unprotected sex.
SYMPTOMS

Most vaginal cancers do not cause symptoms in the early stages, but cancer in more advanced stages can cause symptoms to occur. Even precancerous conditions such as vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) may not cause symptoms (asymptomatic). However, many cases of VAIN and early vaginal cancer, although asymptomatic, can be found through regular Pap tests.
The most common symptom of vaginal cancer is abnormal vaginal bleeding. Vaginal bleeding during menopause is not normal and, therefore, always a sign of some problem.
Most women with vaginal cancer report more than one symptom.
Symptoms of vaginal cancer include:
• Unusual vaginal bleeding
• Abnormal vaginal discharge
• Difficulty or pain when urinating
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Pain in the pelvic area (the lower part of the abdomen between the hip bones)
• Pain in the back or legs
• Swelling in the legs (edema)
These symptoms may be caused by vaginal cancer, or they may be signs of some other, less serious condition. The best way for a woman to determine the cause of these symptoms is to consult a doctor.
Pessary. Long-term vaginal irritation in women using a pessary (a device used to keep a sagging uterus in place) increases the risk of vaginal cancer.
Prevention
Research has shown that certain factors may reduce a woman’s risk of vaginal cancer:
• If young, delaying having sexual intercourse
• Avoiding sex with many partners and avoiding sex with someone who has had many partners
• Practicing safe sex
• Having regular Pap tests to detect and treat precancerous conditions
• Not starting to smoke
• Quitting smoking, if a smoker
DIAGNOSIS

As with all cancers, early detection and treatment is essential for recovery from vaginal cancer. It is important for women to be aware of disease symptoms and see a doctor if any occur. Some vaginal cancers do not present symptoms until the disease has reached an advanced stage.
All women should have an annual gynecologic examination. The doctor will take a family medical history and perform a general physical examination. Other tests may include:
Pelvic examination. The doctor feels the uterus, vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, and rectum for any abnormalities.
Pap test. The doctor gently scrapes the outside of the cervix and vagina and takes sample cells for testing. During the process, there is some pressure but seldom pain.
Colposcopy. The doctor inserts an instrument with binocular magnifying lenses into the vagina and examines the vaginal walls and cervix.
Biopsy. If there is anything unusual, the doctor may perform a biopsy. The doctor will use a local anesthetic to numb the area before taking out a small piece of tissue to send to the laboratory. At the laboratory, a pathologist will look at the tissue under a microscope to determine whether the cells are cancerous.
X-ray. A chest x-ray can show if the cancer has spread to the lungs.
TREATMENT

Once vaginal cancer is diagnosed, the patient’s health-care team (gynecologic oncologist, surgeon, and radiation oncologist) will recommend a treatment plan. Treatment depends on tumor size and location, disease stage, maintaining vaginal function, and whether the patient plans to have children. Before a woman begins treatment, she may want to consider seeking a second opinion for additional information regarding her treatment options.
Vaginal cancer is most often treated with one or a combination of treatments: surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy.
Surgery
Surgery is the primary treatment for vaginal cancer. Surgery may require repair or replacement of the vagina. Intensive preoperative and postoperative counseling is essential.
Surgical options include:
Laser surgery. A narrow beam of light is used to kill very early stage cancer cells. Additional tissue may be removed to be certain that all cancer has been destroyed.
Wide local excision. The surgeon takes out the cancer and some of the surrounding tissue. Vaginal repair using skin from other parts of the woman’s body may be necessary.
Vaginectomy. The surgeon removes the vagina and possibly lymph nodes from the pelvic area.
Radical hysterectomy. When cancer has spread outside of the vagina, the surgeon may remove the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes, as well as lymph nodes. If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, it may be necessary to also remove the lower colon, rectum, or bladder.
If the vagina is removed, a plastic surgeon will create a new vagina with grafts of tissue from other parts of the woman’s body. The patient will be able to have sexual intercourse but will need to use a lubrication aid.
If the patient’s bladder is removed, a small piece of intestine will be attached to the abdominal wall, allowing her to periodically drain urine by placing a slim, hollow tube into a surgically created opening. A plastic bag worn at the front of the stomach can be used for continual draining.
If the patient’s rectum or part of her colon is removed, the remaining intestine will be attached to the abdominal wall so solid waste can pass through a small opening into a bag worn at the front of the stomach.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy uses x-rays or other high-energy particles to kill cancer cells. Treatment is concentrated on a specific area. Radiation may be used alone or after surgery. Often, women may receive both internal and external radiation.
The most common type of radiation is called external-beam radiation, which is radiation given from a machine outside the body. Treatment is usually given five days a week for about six weeks, either in a hospital or clinic.
Some women receive internal radiation. One method is intracavity radiation, in which tiny tubes of a radioactive substance are placed in the vagina for one to two days. The patient must stay in bed during this time. Another method is interstitial radiation, in which needles filled with radioactive material are placed directly into the tumor.
Side effects depend on the treatment dosage, area, and type of radiation (internal or external). Specific side effects may include narrowing of the vagina, damage to healthy vaginal tissue, irritation of the intestines, and diarrhea. The vagina may shorten and narrow so much that intercourse is not possible. To prevent this, a woman can stretch her vagina several times weekly using a plastic tube called a vaginal dilator.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy, the use of drugs to kill cancer, is rarely used to treat vaginal cancer. The goal of chemotherapy can be to destroy cancer remaining after surgery, slow the tumor’s growth, or reduce symptoms.
Although chemotherapy can be given orally (by mouth), when chemotherapy is used to treat vaginal cancer, most drugs are given intravenously (IV). Intravenous chemotherapy is either injected directly into a vein or through a thin tube called a catheter, a tube temporarily put into a large vein to make injections easier. When treating early-stage vaginal cancer, the drugs may be put directly into the vagina (intravaginal chemotherapy).
Since chemotherapy drugs affect normal cells as well as cancer cells, many people experience side effects from treatment. Side effects depend on the drug used and the dosage amount. Common side effects include nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, fatigue, low blood count, bleeding or bruising after minor cuts or injuries, numbness and tingling in the hands or feet, headaches, hair loss, and darkening of the skin and fingernails. Side effects usually go away when treatment is complete.

Stage 0 Vaginal Cancer

Treatment may be one of the following:
1. Surgery to remove all or part of the vagina (vaginectomy). This may be followed by skin grafting to repair damage done to the vagina.
2. Internal radiation therapy.
3. Laser surgery.
4. Intravaginal chemotherapy.
Stage I Vaginal Cancer

Treatment of stage I cancer of the vagina depends on whether a patient has squamous cell cancer or adenocarcinoma.

If squamous cancer is found, treatment may be one of the following:
1. Internal radiation therapy with or without external beam radiation therapy.
2. Wide local excision. This may be followed by the rebuilding of thevagina. Radiation therapy following surgery may also be performed in some cases.
3. Surgery to remove the vagina with or without lymph nodes in the pelvic area (vaginectomy and lymph node dissection).
If adenocarcinoma is found, treatment may be one of the following:
1. Surgery to remove the vagina (vaginectomy) and the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes (hysterectomy). The lymph nodes in the pelvis are also removed (lymph node dissection). This may be followed by the rebuilding of the vagina. Radiation therapy following surgery may also be performed in some cases.
2. Internal radiation therapy with or without external beam radiation therapy.
3. In selected patients, wide local excision and removal of some of the lymph nodes in the pelvis followed by internal radiation.
Stage II Vaginal Cancer

Treatment of stage II cancer of the vagina is the same whether a patient has squamous cell cancer or adenocarcinoma.

Treatment may be one of the following:
1. Combined internal and external radiation therapy.
2. Surgery, which may be followed by radiation therapy.
Stage III Vaginal Cancer

Treatment of stage III cancer of the vagina is the same whether a patient has squamous cell cancer or adenocarcinoma.

Treatment may be one of the following:
1. Combined internal and external radiation therapy.
2. Surgery may sometimes be combined with radiation therapy.
Stage IVA Vaginal Cancer

Treatment of stage IVA cancer of the vagina is the same whether a patient has squamous cell cancer or adenocarcinoma.

Treatment may be one of the following:
1. Combined internal and external radiation therapy.
Stage IVB Vaginal Cancer

If stage IVB cancer of the vagina is found, treatment may be radiation to relieve symptoms such as pain, nausea, vomiting, or abnormal bowel function. Chemotherapy may also be performed. A patient may also choose to participate in a clinical trial.

INTEGRATIVE THERAPY
4. THE SCIENTIFICALLY FORMULATED AMINO ACID THERAPY
(Keep in mind, CAAT is much more than just a “diet”; it is an amino acid, carbohydrate, & glucose REDUCTION protocol which strategically uses the chemical reactions of amino acids, foods, and nutritional supplements to impair the development of cancer cells, thus starving them to death.) Clinical trials have already been done with humans using amino acid depravation formulas, and with much success. (Journal American Medical Association. 1967; 200:211)
CAAT is a course of therapy to control a patient’s amino acid intake. This is achieved by taking certain foods out of a persons’ daily food plan for a short time and by replacing them with a scientifically supported formula of amino acids. It is also important to emphasize that the food plan that accompanies the amino acid formula needs to be followed so not to offset any of the benefits we are creating by depriving the cancer cells the nutrients they need to grow. Also, it is important to realize that the patient does not need to abandon their conventional cancer treatment, (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, hormone treatments) nor is it recommended that they do so unless it has already failed them. CAAT works synergistically with chemotherapy and/or radiation to enhance their benefits (see study by Dr. Marco Rabinowitz of the National Cancer Institute). His report on amino acid deprivation, such as with Controlled Amino Acid Therapy (CAAT), proven to inhibit phosphofructokinase which shuts down the energy supply to cancer cells, simultaneously enhancing the benefits of chemotherapy while lessening their toxic side effects. CAAT has also proven to work successfully alone.
Phase 1: CAAT Formulation
The most important component of CAAT is the scientifically formulated amino acids. Based on the specific formula for each cancer, it consists of separate amino acids, citric acid, and small amounts of sodium benzoate. Each formula replaces most of the regular daily proteins found in meats, dairy, fish, beans and nuts, which cancer cells can derive their energy from. The CAAT formula taken two times per day will nourish the healthy cells while causing the cancer cells to starve to death. Of course each individual has specific needs concerning their diet, and this is explained in the second phase of the protocol as well as with a specialist at the Institute when beginning the CAAT therapy.
Phase 2: Daily Food Intake
DISCLAIMER: The following food program SHOULD NOT be consumed without the amino acid formula and without consent from your doctor and our Institute.
Breakfast:
*1/2 Grapefruit or 1-orange or 6-ounces of fresh orange juice.
Whey Enhanced Protein (Vanilla Flavor – Vitamin Shoppe Brand) approximately
10 – 12 grams of protein – read label carefully, based on 150 lb. person ].
A serving of Grits (Butter, cinnamon and other spices are okay).
1 cup of green or black tea (Fructose is sweetener of choice).
* Do Not have ½ grapefruit if taking Chemotherapy
Explanation: ½ Grapefruit or 1 orange or 6 ounces of fresh orange juice are rich in the natural nutrients called Limonene and Citric Acid. Limonene helps shut down the Ras cancer gene which is over active in 90 percent of all cancers. Citric Acid helps shut down glycolosis which in turn helps starve cancer cells to death.
Whey Enhanced Protein (Vanilla Flavor – Vitamin Shoppe Brand) Phosphorus is a nutrient that cancer cells must utilize in order to grow and reproduce. This brand of whey protein is very low in phosphorous and contains no additional vitamins, so when using approximately 10 – 12 grams of protein per 150 lb. person, it helps to protect normal cells, maintain a normal appetite, and also helps to fight edema. (Edema is the swelling or water build up in the legs or other sites in the body)
Whey protein is included in the daily menu of all advanced or metastatic cancer patients. When treating cancers that are stable or have regressed in size, patients then have the option of including other protein foods at their breakfast meals such as cottage cheese, yogurt, or soy foods. Eggs are allowed in the diets of patients with lymphoma and brain cancers.
Grits or Cream of Wheat or 1 slice of white toast or ½ plain bagel or ½ English muffin (Butter is okay)
Grits or white rice is the preferred carbohydrate food at each meal. The other choices are options once the patient’s cancer is stable or reduced in size. Unrefined carbohydrates are included in the CAAT menu instead of whole grains to deprive cancer cells of a certain B-complex vitamin called Pyridoxine (Vitamin B-6). Cancer cells require this vitamin to manufacture certain amino acids that we keep away from through CAAT’s amino acid reduction formula and diet. Grits is the preferred carbohydrate food at all meals instead of rice, corn, or pasta because it helps deplete Tryptophan in the body, which is essential for the growth and spreading of cancer cells.
1 cup of green or black tea, using fructose as the sweetener of choice. These teas are rich sources of several compounds that help shut down glycolosis and cut off the energy supply to cancer cells. Also, green or regular tea helps to prevent certain hormones and tumor growth factors from stimulating cancer cells to grow and metastasize to other parts of the body. Brassica teas can also be taken because they contain sulphorane, a nutrient that inhibits cancer growth, and also shuts down the cancer genes.
* Why we use fructose as the sweetener of choice will be explained in detail at the end of this phase of the CAAT protocol.
Lunch:
Amino acid formula (4 level plastic scoops) mixed with any of the following: Water & Fructose; Sugar free Kool-Aid; Diet ginger ale; Fresh lemonade & Fructose; Chicken or Beef broth; V8 juice.
Generous amounts of One cooked vegetable or a combination of the following: asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, brussell sprouts, spinach, squash, string beans.
One serving (1/2 cup)of fresh fruit. Choice of: pear, orange, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries.
1 serving (moderate) of grits or corn or rice or pasta (Add tomato sauce or butter)
1 tablespoon of coconut oil
8 to 10 black or green olives
2 tablespoons of vinegar (minimum of 5% acidity) add to vegetables or food
1 cup of green or black tea (Fructose as desired)
Explanation:
This Amino Acid Reduction Formula (4 level plastic scoops may vary) combined with the special diet, allows the CAAT Protocol to reduce certain amino acids in the daily diet of the cancer patient, and is designed to replace most of the animal protein in the diet. Cancer cells require the amino acids glycine, serine, glutamic acid, and aspartic acid to synthesize DNA, build new blood vessels or duplicate its entire contents of proteins. Also, cancer cells require these and certain other amino acids in order to synthesize other proteins that act as growth promoting hormones or tumor growth factors. CAAT impairs the synthesis of a protein called elastin, which is absolutely essential to the manufacture of new blood vessels. The Amino Acid Reduction Formula, diet, certain phytochemicals and herbs work efficaciously to attack cancer cells at each and every biological front.
The generous amounts of one cooked vegetable or a combination of such helps keep normal cells healthy. They are low in carbohydrates and proteins, and high in phytochemicals, compounds which help fight cancer. Patients are allowed to eat these vegetables and salads whenever desired.
The 8 to 10 olives are rich in squalene and oleic acid, nutrients that have been reported to inhibit certain cancer growth factors. The calories in olives also help control body weight and increases ketones in the blood. Ketones help fight cancer by impairing glycolosis – a process in which cancer cells depend almost exclusively upon for their daily supply of energy. Vinegar (and fructose) are two natural products that increase the production of both ACETIC ACID and CITRIC ACID in the body.
Acetic acid and citric acid also help fight cancer by shutting down the process of glycolosis.
Normal cells derive most of their daily energy supply from acetic acid and citric acid, where as cancer cells derive most of their daily energy from glycolosis.

Dinner:
Amino acid formula (4 plastic level scoops) mixed with any of the following: Water & fructose; Sugar free Kool–Ade; Diet Ginger Ale; Fresh lemonade & Fructose; Chicken or Beef broth; V8 Juice.
Generous amounts of One cooked vegetable or a combination of the following: asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, spinach, squash, string beans.
One serving (1/2 cup) of stewed plums with fresh cream & fructose; use 4-ounces of orange juice if plums are not in season.
Avacado salad with lettuce, tomatoes, celery, onions, with lemon juice and coconut oil or olive oil.
2 tablespoons of vinegar (minimum of 5% acidity) add to vegetables or food.
1 serving of grits or corn or pasta or rice (Add garlic and butter or tomato sauce)
1 cup of green or black tea (Fructose as desired)
Mid Evening Snack: Ketogenic Cocktail – 2 ounces of fresh cream, ½ ounce each of both coconut & olive oil, 1 tablespoon of Fructose.
Sugar free Jell-O with whipped cream & Fructose or 1 plum or 4 ounces of orange juice.
Explanation: The sugar free jell-o helps to appease the appetite. Plums contain quinlic acid, which is converted into benzoic acid in the body and which in turn helps to deplete the availability of the amino acid Glycine (Glycine is essential to the synthesis of DNA for cancer cells) and the proteins that cancer cells require to build new blood vessels and their tumor growth factors. If underweight take two ounces of light cream and one ounce of olive oil/coconut oil as needed to maintain weight.
Optional Meal:
3 to 4 ounces of Veal, Fish of choice, Beef, Chicken breast, and 1-slice of white bread.
Consume this meal with a minimum of 3 hours before or after taking the amino acids.
Explanation: If the patient is 10 or more pounds underweight or if their albumin levels are below normal is when the optional meal is allowed. This meal should be eaten a minimum of 3 hours before or after taking the amino acids. CAAT provides sufficient protein to maintain the health of normal cells and adequate amounts of calories to maintain desired body weight. Any proteins taken in excess of amounts recommended in the diet will counter act the benefits of the CAAT protocol.

Special Diets: A special diet will be created for any cancer patient whose ability to consume food and liquids has placed them in a critical situation. When a patient is using a feeding apparatus, or they have become too weak or lethargic to eat and drink the daily minimum amount for survival, we will break up the total breakfast, lunch, and dinner over a period of every 2 hours during the entire day until the patient is capable of returning to a daily diet as outlined above.
Carbohydrate and glucose reduction in this diet: CAAT’S dietary menu provides approximately 20 percent of its calories in the form of carbohydrates. Calories need not be a focal point or counted daily. It is recommended that all patients combat their cancers by keeping their body weight at normal or slightly below normal levels. A patient’s desired body weight is regulated by their rate of metabolism, which in turn is regulated by their blood levels of thyroxine, cortisone, insulin, and the amounts of fats and oils in the diet. Studies with human cancer patients and laboratory animals show that reducing the calories of carbohydrates (glucose) in their daily diet by only 10 percent reduced the size of cancerous tumors. When carbohydrate (glucose) calories were reduced 40 percent, the cancers disappeared. It is recommended that those patients who are obese gradually and systematically lose their excess weight to increase the efficiency of the CAAT protocol. Those patients who are underweight shoudn’t gain weight unless they are more than 10 pounds below normal levels. When a patient is underweight due to anorexia or cachexia, such illnesses must be addressed before the CAAT protocol can begin.
Why we use Fructose and Vinegar to treat cancer:
Nobel Prize winner Dr. Otto Warburg discovered more than 50 years ago that all cancer cells produce inordinate amount of lactic acid but he couldn’t explain why.
In 2001 our Institute published the first study to show that cancer cells produce excess amounts of lactic acid because they could not access the oxygen in compartments in the cells called the mitochondria. This provided evidence that cancer cells depend almost exclusively upon glycolosis or the metabolism of glucose as their major source of energy.
Dr. Spitz and Dr. Lee with other cancer researchers published studies showing that when cancer cells are deprived glucose, their energy supply is cut off which causes these cancer cells to commit suicide.
Therefore shutting down glycolosis would be one means of destroying cancer cells because energy can only be derived from glucose through the metabolic process called glycolosis.
Recently our Cancer Institute discovered that both acetic acid and citric acid could inhibit the activity of a key enzyme in glycolosis called phosphofructokinase, which in turn shuts down the process of glycolosis. Our cancer Institute is the first to introduce both fructose and vinegar as treatments for cancer because they either contain or produce acetic acid.
In conclusion, fructose and vinegar are added as supplements to the CAAT protocol because of their acetic acid properties that help shut down glycolosis, shutting off cancer cells energy supply and causing them to die off.
Phase 3: Nutritional Supplements

Nutritional supplements are based on each unique situation. For example, slow growing cancers produce low levels of toxic free radicals. Tumor cells that grow aggressively produce large amounts of toxic free radicals. The patient will be instructed whether or not to take anti-oxidants (in a nutritional supplement) and at what dosage, according to the levels of toxic free radicals produced in the cancerous cells.
An example of how nutritional supplements can help manipulate cancer cells involves vitamin B-6 (pyroxidine) There are four amino acids essential to the synthesis of DNA. However, those amino acids cannot be synthesized without a certain enzyme, which includes vitamin B-6 among other components. Any supplement containing vitamin B-6 SHOULD NOT be taken during the first 2 months of the CAAT protocol.
The patient will be instructed as to which nutritional supplements or phytochemicals should be purchased and at what dosage strength. Keep in mind that each supplement only complements the CAAT protocol. However, when they are combined they augment the therapeutic benefits of the aminoacid, carbohydrate, and glucose reduction diet.
Parsley: Contains ingredients that can help shut down certain enzymes called Epithelial Growth Factors, which stimulate the growth and spread of cancer. ( CAAT’S amino acid reduction diet works in the same manner )
Vitamin D: Helps activate in many kinds of cancers enzymes called Phosphotases, which literally shut down the activities of other enzymes called Kinases, which are essential to the growth and reproduction of cancer cells.
Green Tea Extract: Phytochemicals in tea help shut down glycolosis (cancer cell’s main supplier of energy) and thereby help to starve cancer cells to death. These effects help complement the effects of CAAT’S carbohydrate reduction.
Anti-Oxidants: The controversy as to whether or not to treat cancer with anti-oxidants is slowly resolving with the current understanding of how they affect the activity of genes and enzymes in cancer cells. The prevailing data shows that the benefits or lack of benefits depend upon the oxidative state the cancer cells are in. Anti-oxidants taken when the cells are in a very high oxidative state may prevent cancer cells from entering apoptosis ( apoptosis is when a cancer cell commits suicide) When oxidative stress in cancer cells is only slightly above normal, anti-oxidants are then expected to stop their growth and reproduction.
Blood Chemistry: Blood tests are usually taken every 6 to 8 weeks, depending upon the results of each test. Not only is it important to monitor the tumor markers but equally important to keep abreast of the overall health of normal tissues and organs. For example, it is important to learn of the health of the kidneys and liver, whether the body is producing sufficient red and white blood cells, etc. Low albumin levels most often indicate insufficient intake of proteins in the diet and this problem would have to be addressed. CAAT is designed to attack cancer but keep the normal cells and tissues functioning harmoniously.
Whey Protein: This protein food is recommended at the breakfast meal to help meet the daily needs of amino acids for the normal cells of the body, and to help keep albumin levels normal and to help prevent edema. We recommend Whey protein purchased from the Vitamin Shoppe because it is the only brand that we have seen with no phosphorous or additional vitamins added to it.
Grits: Grits are also recommended at the breakfast meal in place of whole grains because it is low in vitamin B-6. Cancer cells require B-6 to manufacture the amino acid Glycine, which is required for DNA synthesis. Grits, instead of whole grains, therefore helps prevent cancer cells from manufacturing DNA and building new blood vessels.
Calcium D-Glucurate: This phytochemical helps the body to retain a compound called Glucuronic acid. This is necessary to eliminate both estrogen and testosterone from the body. This is why Calcium D-Glucurate is added to the regiments of patients with breast & prostate cancers. Calcium D-Glucurate is not to be confused with calcium carbonate, which is nothing more than a calcium supplement.
D-Limonene: This phytochemical found mostly in citrus fruits blocks the process called Isoprenylation, which is necessary for tumor growth factors such as the RAS gene, Epithelial Growth factor, Tyrosine Kinase, and Insulin-Like-Growth-factor, to send their signals into the nucleus of a cancer cell and directs them to grow and divide into more cancer cells.
Tocotrienols: This member of the Vitamin E family also helps shut down Isoprenylation and assists D-Limonene in blocking the actions of the various tumor growth factors. More specifically, tocotrienols shut down an enzyme called HMG-2, which is essential to the synthesis of the building blocks that form the Isoprenylation process.
Niacin: This B-Complex vitamin works with D-limonene and the Tocotrienols to shut down the process of Isoprenylation, which as mentioned above prevents the cancer promoting RAS genes from sending signals into the nucleus of the cell. Niacin also helps deplete thee amino acid Glycine, which cancer cells need to synthesize DNA. And by reducing cholesterole in the body, Niacin helps lower the production of estrogen and testosterone.
Choline: This B-complex vitamin is included in our supplement list to help the liver metabolize Niacin and other compounds and to help fight fatigue that accompanies most forms of cancer.
Selenium: Numerous studies show that this mineral can interfere with the activity of certain genes that promote the growth of cancer and to induce cancer cells to commit suicide (apoptosis)
Perilla Oil: This oil is rich in Alpha Linolenic Acid which can inhibit the growth of cancer cells in several ways. One way is to inhibit the synthesis in the body of a tumor growth promotin hormone called Prostaglandin-2, also, Alpha Linolenic Acid inhibits the actions of certain genes that promote the growth of cancer cells. Linolenic acid is not to be confused with linoleic acid, which is a bad fat that stimulates the growth of cancer cells. This bad fat, linoleic acid, is found in all vegetable oils and nuts (With the exception of coconut oil). Olive oil has the least amount of this bad fat.
Super Miraforte: This herb impairs the synthesis of estrogen from testosterone in the body and is included in the regiments of women with breast cancer.
Licorice Root Extract & Pantothenic Acid: This herb and vitamin are added to the regiment when it is desirable to produce steroid like actions in the body. Also used to help patient’s gain weight and to inhibit the growth of lymphomas and leukemia’s.
Resveratrol: This phytochemical blocks the actions of a number of a number of cancer promoting genes thereby causing cancer cells to enter into apoptosis (cell death) and is included in the treatment of all cancers.
Indole-3 Carbinol & D.I.M.: These two phytochemicals block the actions of both estrogen and testosterone and are included in the regiments of both breast and prostate gland cancer.
Melatonin: Numerous studies show that this hormone blocks the synthesis of the cancer promoting chemicals in the body called Leukotrienes, and is included in the treatment of all cancers.
Artho Pro System: This combination of herbs and phytochemicals inhibits the synthesis of the cancer promoting hormone called Prostaglandin-2 and the Leukotriens and replaces the drug celebrex when liver problems are present. The Prostaglandin hormone is over active in most cancers and stimulates cancer growth. The body manufactures the Prostaglandin hormone from the bad fat, Linoleic acid, mentioned above.
Licorice Root Extract & Pantothenic Acid: This HERB and VITAMIN are added to the regiment when it is desirable to produce steroid like actions in the body. Used also to help patients gain weight and ti inhibit the growth of Lymphomas and Leukemias.
CAAT is designed to attack cancer, while keeping normal cells and tissues functioning harmoniously.
* When considering any type of complementary cancer treatment or alternative cancer treatment, always consult with your physician first, as possible interactions could reduce your regimen’s efficacy.

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Stage 0 96%
Stage I 73%
Stage II 58%
Stage III/IV 36%
Adapted from American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org , revised 10-22-03

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Once this factors have been determined, a treatment plan can be organized. Once a doctor recommends treatment, a second opinion may be required by the patient’s insurance company. This is standard procedure for most companies. Many times the patient will request a second opinion.
Vaginal Cancer Treatment Methods
Many times, several different types of treatment will be used to treat vaginal cancer.
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For example, a patient may have surgery, then pelvic radiation therapy. This is not uncommon.

Surgery is a common vaginal cancer treatment method. There are several types of surgeries used to treat vaginal cancer, such as:
• Laser Surgery Laser surgery involves the use of a light beam to ast as a knife to remove abnormal tissue.
• Wide Local Excision A wide local excision is surgery that removes the abnormal tissue and some of the healthy tissue around it.
• Vaginectomy A vaginectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of the vagina.
• Total Hysterectomy A total hysterectomy is the removal of the cervix and uterus.
• Lymphadenectomy During a lymphadenectomy, the lymph nodes are removed and then examined for the presence of cancer.
• Pelvic Exenteration Pelvic exenteration is the surgical removal of the colon, bladder, and rectum. For women, the vagina, cervix, ovaries, and lymph nodes are removed as well.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs that either kill cancer cells or preventing the cells from dividing. Chemotherapy can be given in a variety of ways, with IV infusion and pill being more common. The type of chemotherapy given depends on the stage and type of vaginal cancer.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is the use of certain types of energy, radiation is used to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. This energy can be waves or particles like protons, electrons, x-rays and gamma rays.

Radiation can be given internally or externally

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