What to Know About Radiation Therapy for Vaginal Cancer
Radiation is another way to treat vaginal cancer. It is a local treatment. That means it only targets cancer cells in one specific area. The goal of radiation is to kill cancer cells. It works by directing strong rays at the tumor.
You may have this therapy after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells. Or you may have it without surgery. You may receive low-dose chemotherapy along with radiation therapy to enhance the radiation’s effectiveness. This is called radiosensitization or concomitant chemoradiotherapy. You may have external beam radiation therapy, internal radiation therapy, or both. To get this treatment, you see a radiation oncologist.
What Happens During External Beam Radiation Therapy for Vaginal Cancer
The most common way to receive radiation for vaginal cancer is from a machine outside your body that emits an invisible beam. This is called external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). A doctor who specializes in cancer and radiation is called a radiation oncologist. This doctor will work with you to determine the kind of radiation you need. He or she will also determine the dose and how long you need the therapy. If you need radiation combined with chemotherapy, another doctor will give you the therapy and work together with your radiation oncologist in timing your treatments.
You can receive external radiation therapy on an outpatient basis in a hospital or a clinic. The standard treatment lasts 5 weeks, 5 days a week. This type of radiation may come from a machine called a linear accelerator. If you also have chemotherapy, you will often receive it in a different outpatient area.
Preparing for Radiation
Before your first radiation treatment, you will have a session to determine exactly where on your body the radiation beams need to be directed. The process is called simulation. This session may take up to 2 hours. You’ll lie still on a table while a radiation therapist uses a machine to define your treatment field. The field is the exact area on your body where the radiation will be aimed. You may have more than one treatment field if you have cancer in more than one place. The therapist marks your skin with tiny dots of colored permanent ink so that the radiation will be aimed at the exact same place each time. You may also have imaging scans, such as computed tomography (CT) scans, to help doctors know the exact location of your tumor to better aim the radiation. Also at this session, you may have body molds made to help keep you from moving during the treatment.
On the Days You Have Radiation
On the days you receive radiation treatment, you’ll lie on a table while the machine is placed over you. You may have to wear a hospital gown. The experience is much like that of getting an X-ray, only longer. It takes about 15 minutes to complete. You should, though, plan on being there for about an hour.
When you are ready, the therapist will leave the room and turn the machine on. You may hear whirring or clicking noises while the radiation is being given. During the session, you will be able to talk to the therapist over an intercom. You can’t feel radiation, so the process will be painless. Also, you will not be “radioactive” afterward.
What Happens During Internal Radiation Therapy for Vaginal Cancer
Internal radiation therapy uses radioactive needles or seeds placed inside your body near the tumor.
This type of radiation has 2 other names.
- Alternative implant therapy
- High-dose rate brachytherapy
There are 2 types of internal radiation therapy.
- Intracavitary radiation uses “seeds.”
- Interstitial radiation uses needles.
Here’s how internal radiation works.
- You may have tests ahead of time to determine where the radioactive material should be placed. Then, the radiation oncologist or gynecologic oncologist places radioactive material inside your vagina.
- The material stays in place for a little while to kill the abnormal cells. How long it stays in place varies depending upon the stage and location of your cancer as well as your overall treatment plan.
- The doctor removes the material before you go home.
- Radiation does not remain in your body after the treatment is done. So you do not pose a risk to those around you.
Where you have the treatment and whether you stay in the hospital depends on your treatment plan and the facilities available in your area.
What to Expect After Radiation Therapy for Vaginal Cancer
Radiation therapy—whether external or internal—affects normal cells as well as cancer cells. The side effects of radiation depend on the amount and the type of radiation you get. Be sure to let your doctor know of any side effects you have.
Here’s an overview of how you might feel during or after having radiation therapy.
- You may have diarrhea, with or without blood in the stool. You may also have cramping or feel like you need to have a bowel movement. If you have these effects, they are likely to occur in the second or third week of treatment.
- The skin around the area treated may get irritated. The skin may be red, flake, or drain fluid.
- You may lose your pubic hair. Some of it may grow back.
- You may have vaginal discharge, or your vagina may become dry, irritated, or narrower. You might find that your vagina is narrower and less flexible. The doctor may give you a dilator to help with these problems. Sexual intercourse may be hard because the skin can be sensitive.
- You may feel like you have to urinate often or all the time. Or you may have a burning feeling when you’re urinating. You also may have blood in your urine. If you have these kinds of problems, they usually occur about 3 to 5 weeks into your radiation treatment.
- You may feel very tired, or fatigued, until about a month after your treatment is done.
- You may have swelling in your legs. This is rare, but occurs more often in women who have had lymph nodes removed.
- You may have a loss of appetite or be nauseated.
The following effects may continue after treatment ends. Or they may not appear for a few years after treatment ends. Talk with your doctor about ways to deal with these longer-lasting side effects. Also, be clear that radiation turns off the ovaries. They will likely never work again.
- Bowel problems, such as diarrhea or cramping
- Urinary problems, such as needing to go to the bathroom more often or having trouble controlling your urine.
