Learn About Vaginal Cancer
Vaginal cancer is cancer of the vagina, a female reproductive organ.
Vaginal cancer; Cancer - vagina; Tumor - vaginal
Most vaginal cancers occur when another cancer, such as cervical, vulvar, or endometrial cancer, spreads. This is called secondary vaginal cancer.
Cancer that starts in the vagina is called primary vaginal cancer. This type of cancer is rare. Most primary vaginal cancers start in skin-like cells called squamous cells. This cancer is known as squamous cell carcinoma. The other types include:
- Adenocarcinoma
- Melanoma
- Sarcoma
The cause of squamous cell carcinoma of the vagina is unknown. But a history of cervical cancer is common in women with squamous cell carcinoma of the vagina. So it may be associated with human papilloma virus (HPV) infection.
Most women with squamous cell cancer of the vagina are over 50.
Adenocarcinoma of the vagina tends to affect younger women. The average age at which this cancer is diagnosed is 19. Women whose mothers took the medicine diethylstilbestrol (DES) to prevent miscarriages during the first 3 months of pregnancy are more likely to develop vaginal adenocarcinoma.
Sarcoma of the vagina is a rare cancer that mainly occurs in infancy and early childhood.
Symptoms of vaginal cancer can include any of the following:
- Bleeding after having sex
- Painless vaginal bleeding and discharge not due to a normal period
- Pain in the pelvis or vagina
Some women have no symptoms.
Treatment of vaginal cancer depends on:
- The type of cancer
- How far the disease has spread
Surgery is sometimes used if the cancer is small and located at the upper part of the vagina. Most women are treated with radiation. If the tumor is cervical cancer that has spread to the vagina, radiation and chemotherapy are both given.
Sarcoma may be treated with a combination of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation.
Msk Harrison
Yukio Sonoda is a Gynecologic Oncologist and an Oncologist in West Harrison, New York. Dr. Sonoda is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Vaginal Cancer. His top areas of expertise are Ovarian Cancer, Endometrial Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Hysterectomy, and Lymphadenectomy.
UPMC Magee-Womens Gynecologic Oncology
Dr. Sukumvanich is a specialized surgeon and gynecologic oncologist, specializing in the treatment of gynecologic and breast cancers. He serves as an assistant professor in the School of Medicine, and his research centers on the genetic causes of ovarian and breast cancers, and also cancer informatics (the science of analyzing large amounts of information). Dr. Sukumvanich is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Vaginal Cancer. His top areas of expertise are Endometrial Cancer, Vaginal Cancer, Vulvar Cancer, Vulvectomy, and Hysterectomy.
Mskcc Surgery Group
Mario Leitao is a Gynecologic Oncologist and an Oncologist in New York, New York. Dr. Leitao is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Vaginal Cancer. His top areas of expertise are Endometrial Cancer, Vulvar Cancer, Vaginal Cancer, Hysterectomy, and Lymphadenectomy. Dr. Leitao is currently accepting new patients.
You can ease the stress of illness by joining a support group whose members share common experiences and problems.
The outlook for women with vaginal cancer depends on the size and the stage of disease and the specific type of tumor.
Vaginal cancer may spread to other areas of the body. Complications can occur from radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy.
Contact your health care provider for an appointment if:
- You notice bleeding after sex
- You have persistent vaginal bleeding or discharge
There are no definite ways to prevent this cancer.
The HPV vaccine is approved to help prevent cervical cancer. This vaccine may also decrease the risk of getting some other HPV-associated cancers, such as vaginal cancer. You can increase your chance of early detection by getting regular pelvic examinations and Pap smears.
Summary: The vaginal cancers are responsible for 2% of gynecological cancer while vulvar cancers account for 4 % of gynecological cancers. HPV 16 and 33 are most prevalent in vaginal cancers and account for more than half of cases HPV related vaginal cancer. However, adeqaute information is not there. Similarly, structured QOL data is not available for India. Therefore, in the proposed study we will like t...
Summary: This Phase III, randomized, balanced, parallel-group, multicenter trial aims to evaluate the effect of vaginal radiofrequency on symptoms of vaginal dryness at six months. The study compares vaginal radiofrequency treatment with non-hormonal hydration therapy in a population of patients undergoing adjuvant hormonal therapy with aromatase inhibitors, with or without LHRH agonists, for breast cancer...
Published Date: March 31, 2024
Published By: Howard Goodman, MD, Gynecologic Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, West Palm Beach, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Frumovitz M. Neoplastic diseases of the vulva and vagina. . In: Gershenson DM, Lentz GM, Valea FA, Lobo RA, eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 30.
Jhingran A, Russell AH, Seiden MV, et al. Cancers of the cervix, vulva, and vagina. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 84.
PDQ Adult Treatment Editorial Board. Vaginal Cancer Treatment (PDQ): Health Professional Version. 2024 Feb 16. In: PDQ Cancer Information Summaries [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Cancer Institute (US); 2002. PMID: 26389242 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26389242/.