Does my vaginal sensitivity mean vaginal cancer risk at 21?

Question

Hi doctor,

I got my HPV shot. I do not smoke. I am a virgin and practice good genital hygiene. But my vaginal area is very sensitive to soap, and it feels a little bumpy. But I am not showing any signs of vaginal cancer, like pelvic pain or unusual bleeding.

Could it be due to some soap allergy?
How common is it for a person who is 21 years old to have vaginal cancer?

Please help.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I went through your query.

Please do not think of such rare conditions for small symptoms. Basically, cancer or dysplasia has a genetic background. In the case of a few cancers, like cervical and vaginal cancers, it is due to HPV infections (human papillomavirus), and also, in oral or lung cancers, where smoking is a cause due to repeated injury by the tar.

A common thing to note is that, be it infection or tar, it causes repeated damage to healthy tissue. This injury heals before it heals. The next injury comes, and so it goes on till the healing is replaced by cells that are abnormal, which takes many years. Once these abnormal cells appear, they keep dividing into abnormal cells. After many years, these cells dominate to form cancer.

In female genital cancer, the commonest is uterine, then ovarian, next cervical, then fallopian tubes, and the rarest is vaginal. Since it is due to HPV infection, it is seen in those with sex exposure at a young age with compounding sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, multiple sex partners, or repeated injury to the vagina. The best part is it has no symptoms.

The cases will present with a lot of foul-smelling brownish or bloody discharge, usually around the 50s to 60s, as cancer cells take so many years to reach such a stage to be detected.

From your history, I do not see even a single risk factor. Simple causes I can think of are skin allergies to soap or oils, shaving blades, tampons or pads, or cosmetics. Just keep the area clean and use soft baby soaps and lotions. If you have a urinary infection, then similar symptoms appear.

The only problem I see is your weight. Your expected weight is 115 to 125 lbs. To reduce weight, please do not fast. Say no to junk food, fast food, and red meat, and reduce snacks in between meals. Have low-calorie food and high-protein food. Do regular exercise (especially for the waist and hip area), aerobics, yoga, brisk walking (swing your hands well) and try to reduce 4 to 8 lbs per month.

Do not hurry on weight reduction, as it will be difficult to maintain. As soon as you reduce by at least 11 lbs, you will see changes. The bumpy feel may be due to fat deposition in the body or to your over-anxiety.

Hope it helps.

Thanks and regards.