Overview
Vaginal cancer is a rare cancer that affects the vagina.
Some types of cancer, such as cervical cancer, can spread to the vagina. This page
is about cancer that begins in the vagina.
Symptoms
Symptoms of vaginal cancer include:
- vaginal bleeding after the menopause
- bleeding after sex or pain during sex
- smelly or bloodstained vaginal discharge
- bleeding between periods
- a lump or mass in your vagina that will not go away
- pain when peeing, or needing to pee a lot
Vaginal cancer is rare, especially in women under 40.
If you have these symptoms, it's much more likely you have something less
serious, such as an infection.
When to see a GP
See a GP if you think you might have symptoms of vaginal cancer.
It's unlikely you have it, but it's best to get checked so that any serious
problems can be ruled out. You will not be wasting your doctor's time.
If it is cancer, getting diagnosed early can mean treatment is more likely to be
effective.
Tests and diagnosis
The GP will ask about your symptoms and may ask to examine your vagina (a
pelvic examination).
If they're not sure what the cause is, they may refer you to a specialist for
further tests, such as:
- another pelvic examination
- a colposcopy, where a microscope is used to look inside your vagina and a
small piece of tissue may be removed for testing (biopsy)
- scans
The specialist will be able to tell you if you have cancer or something else. If it
is cancer, they'll talk to you about what happens next.
Treatments
If you have vaginal cancer, you'll see a team of specialists who will recommend
the best treatment for you.
This will depend on things like how far the cancer has spread.
The main treatments for vaginal cancer are:
- radiotherapy –
radiation from an external machine or a temporary implant in your vagina is used to kill cancer
cells
- surgery - this may involve just removing a small part of your vagina or it
could mean your vagina needs to be completely removed and recreated, and nearby tissue like your womb
may need to be removed (hysterectomy)
- chemotherapy –
medicine is used to relieve symptoms and kill cancer cells if they've spread to other parts of your
body
Ask your care team about what the different treatments involve and why they think a
particular treatment is best for you.
Outlook
Vaginal cancer can sometimes be cured if it's caught early. If a cure is not
possible, treatment might help relieve the symptoms for several years.
Speak to your care team if you would like to know what the outlook is for you, as
it varies from person to person.
You can also find general survival
statistics for vaginal cancer on the Cancer Research UK website.
Prevention
Like cervical cancer, vaginal cancer is usually caused by infection with some types
of human papilloma virus (HPV).
The HPV vaccination, now
routinely offered to 11 to 13 year old girls, helps prevent infection with the main types of HPV linked to
cervical and vaginal cancer.
This can significantly reduce the risk of getting these cancers later in
life.
More information
For more advice, information and support, see: