Wide local excision: Your healthcare provider removes the tumor along with some of the healthy tissue surrounding it.
Vaginectomy (partial or radical): Your provider removes all or part of your vagina depending on tumor size and location. Depending on how far the cancer has spread, your provider may recommend removing your lymph nodes (lymph node dissection) and your uterus and cervix (hysterectomy).
Pelvic exenteration: This surgery removes multiple organs from your pelvis, including the bottom part of your colon (rectum), bladder, uterus, cervix, vagina, ovaries and nearby lymph nodes. Your provider will make an opening in your abdomen that will allow you to pee and poop (called a stoma or ostomy bag). This type of surgery may be an option if you have recurring cancer.
Radiation uses targeted energy beams, like X-rays, to destroy cancer cells or keep them from dividing.
External radiation therapy: A machine outside your body directs beams of high-energy radiation at your tumor.
Internal radiation therapy: Sealed wires or catheters containing radioactive material are placed inside your vagina, either into or near the tumor.
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy alone isn’t an effective treatment for vaginal cancer, but it may be used alongside radiation to enhance its effectiveness. Sometimes, chemotherapy is used to treat tumors that disappear with treatment and later return.
Your provider may recommend you take part in a clinical trial to try new cancer treatments in development. The American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute are good resources for locating current clinical trials involving vaginal cancer treatments.
How can I reduce my risk of getting vaginal cancer?
Vaginal Cancer After PeriodYou can’t prevent vaginal cancer, but you can reduce your risk.
Get regular pelvic exams and Pap tests. Talk with your provider about how regularly you should be receiving routine checks from your gynecologist.
Get the HPV vaccine. Talk to your provider about getting vaccinated against HPV. Currently, there are three FDA-approved vaccines available, Gardasil, Gardasil 9 and Cervarix.
Don’t smoke. Smoking increases your risk of all cancers, including vaginal cancer.
Your prognosis for vaginal cancer depends on the stage at which it’s diagnosed. Early-stage vaginal cancers can often be successfully treated, and you can go on to live a full life. Later-stage cancers are harder to treat and may require ongoing chemotherapy and other treatment options. For this reason, it’s important to get regular gynecological exams, even when you feel healthy. Seek medical advice at the first sign of symptoms.
Yes. But it’s rare for cancer to begin in your vagina, as with vaginal cancer. More often, cancers that begin in other parts of your body spread to your vagina. Cancers that spread to your vagina most commonly begin in your cervix (cervical cancer) or the lining of your uterus (uterine cancer/endometrial cancer).
Vaginal bleeding is a common symptom of multiple cancers, including vaginal cancer, cervical cancer, uterine cancer and ovarian cancer. But abnormal bleeding is a common sign of multiple conditions, not just cancer. Don’t assume you have cancer if you have unusual bleeding. Still, see your healthcare provider to get checked.
The most common symptom of vaginal cancer is painless vaginal bleeding, which means you may not feel vaginal cancer at all. Less commonly, you may experience pain in your pelvis, painful urination or discomfort related to constipation.
If you receive a vaginal cancer diagnosis, it’s important to have an honest discussion with your provider about the type of cancer, if it’s spread, and what your treatment options are. Your prognosis will depend on multiple factors. Your provider is your best resource for explaining what this diagnosis means for you.
In the meantime, establishing a support network that includes family members, friends, current cancer patients and cancer survivors is an essential part of your care plan, too. The American Cancer Society can connect you with cancer support groups. Speak to a counselor to process your diagnosis. Getting your emotional needs met is as important as the clinical care you receive.
Vaginal cancer is a rare cancer that occurs in your vagina — the muscular tube that connects your uterus with your outer genitals. Vaginal cancer most commonly occurs in the cells that line the surface of your vagina, which is sometimes called the birth canal.