Canadian Health Information Management Association Practice Exam

A 35-year-old patient with vaginal cancer asks the doctor, "What is the usual treatment for this type of cancer?" Which treatment should the doctor name?

1. Chemotherapy.

2. Immunotherapy.

3. Radiation.

4. Surgery.

The correct answer is: Radiation.

The most common treatment for vaginal cancer typically involves radiation therapy. This approach is often used because it targets cancer cells in the vaginal area directly, helping to control the growth and spread of the tumor. Radiation can be employed as a primary treatment or as an adjunct to surgery, particularly when there is a need to reduce tumor size before surgical intervention or to eliminate any remaining cancer cells afterward. While chemotherapy and immunotherapy are also vital treatment options for various types of cancer, they are not the first-line treatments specifically for vaginal cancer. Surgery can be performed in cases where the cancer is localized, but radiation is more commonly utilized, especially for initial treatment. Therefore, naming radiation as the usual treatment aligns with established medical practices for this condition.