To help diagnose vaginal cancer, your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and may carry out a physical examination.
They may also refer you for blood tests to rule out other causes of your symptoms, such as infection.
If your doctor cannot find an obvious cause of your symptoms, they will probably refer you to a gynaecologist for further testing. A gynaecologist is a specialist in treating conditions of the female reproductive system.
If you are referred to a gynaecologist, you may have:
If your gynaecologist thinks there may be abnormal tissue inside your vagina, a small sample of the tissue will be removed and checked under a microscope for cancerous cells. This is known as a biopsy.
If the results of the biopsy suggest you have cancer, you may have further tests to see if the cancer has spread.
These tests may include a more detailed internal vaginal examination carried out under general anaesthetic, X-rays, computerised tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
Healthcare professionals use a staging system to describe how far vaginal cancer has advanced.
The stage of your cancer is important in determining which treatment is most appropriate and whether a cure is possible. Generally, the lower the stage when cancer is diagnosed, the better the chance of a cure.
If a cure is not possible, treatment can still help relieve any symptoms and slow down the spread of the cancer. Read More About: How Vaginal Cancer Is Treated.
Read More ON:
Vaginal Cancer
Causes of Vaginal Cancer
Treating Vaginal Cancer
Fibroids
Diagnosing Fibroids
Treating Fibroids
Complications of Fibroids
Cervical Cancer
Symptoms of Cervical Cancer
Causes of Cervical Cancer
Diagnosing Cervical Cancer
Treating Cervical Cancer
Preventing Cervical Cancer
Womb Cancer
Symptoms of Womb Cancer
Causes of Womb Cancer
Diagnosing Womb Cancer
Treating Womb Cancer
Ovarian Cancer
Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
Causes of Ovarian Cancer
Diagnosing Ovarian Cancer
Treating Ovarian Cancer
Preventing Ovarian Cancer
Dry Vagina
SOURCE: NHS UK
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cancer-of-the-vagina/Pages/Diagnosis.aspx