Vaginal cancer

Vaginal cancer is a rare form of gynecological cancer. About half of the cases of vaginal cancer are connected to the human papillomavirus (HPV).

Your Aurora BayCare gynecologic oncology experts deliver expert diagnosis and treatment for vaginal cancer. They also provide the HPV vaccine to help prevent vaginal cancer and other related cancers.

What are the early signs of vaginal cancer?

There are often no vaginal cancer symptoms when it starts to grow. Some of the earliest symptoms of vaginal cancer are:

• An unusual or foul-smelling vaginal discharge.
• Blood in your urine or stool
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Spotting of blood between menstrual cycles

Other vaginal cancer symptoms that may occur if vaginal cancer begins to spread outside the vagina are:

• Constipation
• Frequent urination
• Lower abdominal, back or pelvic pain
• Pain during urination
• Swelling (edema) in your legs

What does vaginal cancer look and feel like?

Since your vagina is inside your body, the only way you’ll see what vaginal cancer looks like is if your doctor shows you images from scans or internal exams.

If cancer spreads outside your vagina to your external genitals (vulva) or the area between your vagina and anus (perineum), you may see flat lumps, sores or wart-like growths.

Risk factors for vaginal cancer

Some factors increase the risk of developing vaginal cancer. It occurs most often in women who are older than 60 years. Other risk factors for vaginal cancer are:

• Having cervical cancer
• Having HIV
• Previous hysterectomy for a benign or cancerous tumor
• Smoking
• Some types of HPV infection

Some research shows a connection between drinking alcohol and vaginal cancer. More research is needed to confirm this connection.

Types of vaginal cancer

Different types of vaginal cancer grow in different types of cells within the vagina, including:

• Squamous cell: Grows in the cells of the vagina lining and is the most common type of vaginal cancer. This type usually grows slowly and stays within the vagina rather than spreading.
• Adenocarcinoma: Grows in the glandular cells of the vagina. Glandular cells normally function by releasing fluids to cleanse and lubricate the vagina.
• Melanoma: Grows in pigment-producing cells and is very rare.
• Sarcoma: Grows in muscle cells or connective tissue cells and is very rare.

How is vaginal cancer diagnosed?

Vaginal cancer may be diagnosed at an annual exam when your OB-GYN or primary care provider notices signs. Or they may recognize the risk of potential vaginal cancer symptoms you may have noticed.

They’ll also gather personal and family medical history information. In addition to a regular physical exam, they’ll perform a pelvic exam to judge the size, shape and position of your vagina, cervix and uterus.

Imaging tests are also needed to evaluate the size and position of a potential vaginal cancer tumor. Some tests may allow tissue to be removed (biopsy) so it can be examined under a microscope. Some of the diagnostic tests you may experience are:

• Chest X-ray
• Computed tomography scan (CT)
• Cystoscopy
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Positron emission tomography (PET)
• Proctoscopy

Vaginal cancer treatment

Vaginal cancer may be treated with surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Surgery is used to remove cancerous tissues in the vagina or tissues in other areas of the body where the cancer may have spread such as the bladder or uterus. We use minimally invasive surgery when possible.

Your surgeon may also recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy for these reasons:

• Shrink a tumor before surgery
• Kill remaining cancer cells after surgery
• As the only recommended vaginal cancer treatment

Sometimes chemo or radiation therapy may be used both before and after surgery.

Depending on how much tissue needs to be removed, you may also need reconstruction surgery for your vagina, bladder or other affected body parts.

Clinical trials

You may be eligible for clinical trials that are testing approaches to vaginal cancer treatment. Talk to your doctor about what’s available and what might work with your treatment.

Fertility can be affected by some treatments for vaginal cancer. If you’re interested in preserving your fertility, be sure to talk to your doctor about fertility treatments available before treatment for vaginal cancer.

Request an appointment

Learn more about women’s cancer treatment options at Aurora BayCare. Request an appointment with a gynecologic cancer specialist.