Vaginal cancer is a very rare cancer in which cancer cells in the vagina grow out of control.
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What Is Vaginal Cancer?
Vaginal cancer is cancer that forms in the vagina, the muscular channel connecting the bottom of the uterus to the outside of the body.
It's more common for cancer to start in another organ and spread to the vagina than for cancer to form in the vagina.
How common is vaginal cancer?
Vaginal cancer is very rare. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2020:
- 1,272 women (0.6 per 100,000 women) were diagnosed with vaginal cancer.
- 423 women (0.2 per 100,000 women) died from vaginal cancer.
What are the types of vaginal cancer?
There are many types of vaginal cancer, but the most common types are:
- Adenocarcinoma — Develops in the glands that line the vagina. Accounts for 1 in 10 cases of vaginal cancer.
- Melanoma — A kind of skin cancer that starts in the melanocytes, the cells that make pigment in the skin.
- Squamous cell carcinoma — Occurs in the squamous cells that line the bottom surface of the vagina. The most common vaginal cancer, squamous cell carcinomas account for nearly nine in 10 cases.
What causes vaginal cancer?
Doctors don't always know why someone gets vaginal cancer, but high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV) are a known cause.
Vaginal cancer risk factors
Certain factors may increase your risk of developing vaginal cancer, including:
- Age — Vaginal cancer is rarely diagnosed in people under 40. Half of cases occur in women over 70.
- Drinking alcohol — Studies have shown that not drinking decreases your risk of vaginal cancer.
- Exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in the womb — DES was given to women in the 1950s as a hormonal drug to prevent miscarriage. Women who were exposed to this medication in the womb have a higher chance of developing adenocarcinoma.
- HPV diagnosis — HPV is found in most vaginal cancer cases.
- Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) treatment — Wearing a pessary to treat this pelvic floor disorder can cause chronic vaginal irritation, which can increase your risk of vaginal cancer.
- Precancer and cancer history — Having had vulvar or vaginal precancer or cervical cancer or precancer raises your risk of vaginal cancer.
- Smoking – Smoking may prevent the body's immune system from clearing HPV.
- Weakened immune system — An HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection and other illnesses weaken your immune system, making it harder for your body to fight off infection and cancer.
Complications of vaginal cancer
As with any cancer, the biggest complication is if it metastasizes (spreads) to other areas of your body.
How can I reduce my risk of vaginal cancer?
The best way to reduce your risk of vaginal cancer is to get the HPV vaccine if you are eligible. Consider vaccinating your teens, too, so they're protected in the future.
The HPV vaccine protects against the types of HPV that most often cause cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers.
Even if you're vaccinated against HPV, you should have routine pelvic exams and the recommended schedule of Pap smears to test for cervical cancer.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Vaginal Cancer?
Vaginal cancer symptoms include:
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding.
- A lump in the vagina.
- Pain during intercourse.
- Pain in the pelvic area.
How Do You Diagnose Vaginal Cancer?
Your doctor will first take your medical history and do a pelvic exam to diagnose vaginal cancer. This internal exam allows them to examine the vulva, vagina, and cervix.
Tests to diagnose vaginal cancer
If your doctor suspects cancer, they may order:
- Biopsy — To confirm the presence of cancer cells, your doctor will remove a small piece of tissue for a pathologist to examine under a microscope.
- Colposcopy/vaginoscopy — Using a colposcope, which has magnifying lenses, lets your doctor see the vaginal walls.
- Imaging tests — A CT scan and MRI provide images of the inside of your body.
How Do You Treat Vaginal Cancer?
Treatment for vaginal cancer typically includes chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, or a combination of all three.
Your doctor will make a recommendation based on your cancer's size, stage, and location.
Why Choose UPMC for Vaginal Cancer Care?
Through the UPMC Gynecologic Cancer Program, you have access to additional treatment options and services, including:
