They might also take out a bit of tissue so a specialist can look at it under a microscope. This is called a biopsy.
After your doctor diagnoses vaginal cancer, they’ll do imaging tests and other exams to find out whether it’s spread to other parts of your body. This helps them decide the stage the cancer and how to treat it. The stages are:
You and your doctor will decide on treatment based on many things, including how close the cancer is to other organs, its stage, whether you’ve had radiation treatment in your pelvic area, and whether you’ve had a hysterectomy to remove your uterus.
Your doctor will probably recommend one or more of these treatments: Surgery. This is the most common treatment. Your doctor may use a laser to cut out tissue or growths. In some cases, they might remove all or part of your vagina. You may need a hysterectomy to remove your cervix or other organs. Many women can have a normal sex life after surgery. But sex can raise your chances of infection, and it can cause bleeding or strain the surgical site. Your doctor will tell you what’s safe to do and when it's safe.
Radiation therapy. This treatment uses high-powered X-rays or other forms of radiation to kill cancer. Your doctor might use a machine that sends X-rays into your body, or they could insert a radioactive substance inside your body, on or near the cancer. Radiation treatments in your pelvic area can damage your ovaries. That can cause them to stop making estrogen, leading to menopause symptoms like hot flashes and vaginal dryness. If you’ve been through menopause, you probably won’t have these problems. This type of therapy also can irritate healthy tissue. Your vagina might get swollen and tender. Sex may be painful. Chemotherapy (“chemo”). This uses medication to kill or stop the growth of cancer cells. You might take the medication by mouth or get it injected into a vein (intravenous or IV). In some cases, your doctor might give you a chemo in lotion or cream form.
You may lose your sex drive or have side effects like nausea, hair loss, and changes in body weight. These will improve or go away after treatment. Vaginal Cancer Prognosis Your recovery depends on many things. The most crucial is the stage at which your doctor found your cancer. At the earliest stages, doctors can often cure vaginal cancer. Five-year survival rates are around 67% for women at stages I and II. This means that 5 years after they were diagnosed or treated, 67% of women are still alive. It's about 47% for all stages combined.
Your age, your overall health, whether your cancer is new or has come back, and whether it caused symptoms also play a role in recovery. Vaginal Cancer Prevention The best way to protect yourself is to avoid getting HPV. The FDA has approved the Gardasil 9 vaccine to prevent HPV-related diseases, including the seven most common types of HPV that cause cancer. The vaccine is for people ages 9 to 45. Younger patients need fewer shots for full protection. Certain lifestyle changes can also help reduce your risk of vaginal cancer:
Wait to have sex until your late teen years or beyond. Don’t have sex with more than one partner. Don’t have sex with someone who has more than one partner. Use condoms during sex. Get regular Pap exams. If you smoke, stop. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. Vaginal cancer is a rare cancer that usually forms in your vaginal lining. You’re at a higher risk of developing it if you’re over 60 or have HPV. Vaginal cancer doesn’t always cause symptoms, which is why it’s a good idea to get regular pelvic exams and Pap smears to detect cancer early. APPOINTMENTS & ACCESS CONTACT US Symptoms and Causes Diagnosis and Tests Management and Treatment Prevention Outlook / Prognosis Frequently Asked Questions OVERVIEW
What is vaginal cancer? Vaginal cancer is a rare form of cancer that most often occurs in the cells lining your vagina. The vagina is a tube-like organ that connects your cervix (the lower part of your uterus) to your vulva (genitals). Cancers that start in other parts of your body – like cervical cancer or uterine cancer – sometimes spread to your vagina. It’s less common for cancer to begin in your vagina, as with vaginal cancer. What are the different types of vaginal cancer? There are different types of vaginal cancer. They’re named after the cells in your vagina where cancer starts. Squamous cell carcinoma begins in the flat cells that line your vagina, called squamous cells. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type of vaginal cancer. It accounts for nearly 90% of all cases.
Does Vaginal Cancer Affect FertilityAdenocarcinoma begins in gland cells in your vagina. It’s most common in people over 50. Clear cell adenocarcinoma is the exception, often affecting people under 50 who were exposed to a drug called diethylstilbestrol (DES) when they were developing in the uterus.
Melanoma begins in the cells that give your vagina its color (melanocytes). Vaginal melanomas are extremely rare.
Sarcoma begins in the connective tissue and muscle tissue that make up your vaginal wall. Like vaginal melanomas, vaginal sarcomas are extremely rare. There are different types of sarcoma. Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common and mostly occurs in children. Leiomyosarcoma occurs most often in people over 50.
About 1 in 100,000 women and people assigned female at birth is diagnosed with vaginal cancer, usually squamous cell carcinoma. Vaginal cancer accounts for only 1 to 2% of gynecological cancers.
You’re over 60. Your risk of getting vaginal cancer increases with age. The average age that people get diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma (the most common type) is 60. Occasionally, people younger than 60 develop vaginal cancer.
You have human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that may increase your cervical cancer and vaginal cancer risk. Having multiple sex partners and being unvaccinated against HPV puts you at greater risk of infection.
You’ve been diagnosed with vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN). With VAIN, you have cells in your vaginal lining that aren’t normal, but they’re not cancer cells either. VAIN progresses to vaginal cancer in some people but not others. Researchers aren’t sure why. You’re more likely to develop VAIN if you have HPV.
You’ve had cervical cancer or cervical dysplasia. It’s possible to develop vaginal cancer after being treated for cervical cancer. Abnormal cells in your cervix, or cervical dysplasia, may increase your risk of vaginal cancer.
You’ve been exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES). DES is a synthetic form of estrogen prescribed between 1940 and 1971 to prevent pregnancy complications. You’re at increased risk of developing adenocarcinoma if your birthing parent took DES during pregnancy and you were exposed.
Vaginal cancer doesn’t always cause symptoms. You may not know you have it until your healthcare provider notices abnormal cells during a routine screening. This is why it’s important to get checked regularly. Your provider can detect vaginal cancer even when your body isn’t alerting you that something’s wrong.
Vaginal bleeding (unrelated to menstruation) after intercourse. Vaginal bleeding after menopause (when you no longer get periods). Vaginal discharge that’s watery, bloody or foul-smelling. Pain during intercourse. A noticeable mass in your vagina. Painful urination or frequently feeling the urge to pee. Constipation or black-colored stools. Feeling the urge to poop when your bowels are empty. Pelvic pain.