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Vaginal Cancer

 201-227-6200   |    gynonc@holyname.org

Overview

The vagina leads from the cervix, which is the opening of the uterus, to the outside of the body. There are two main types of vaginal cancer: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.

  • Cancer in the squamous cells, the thin, flat cells lining the vagina, is the most common. It spreads slowly and usually stays near the vagina but may spread to the lungs, liver or bone.

  • Adenocarcinoma develops in the glandular cells, which make and release fluids and are also found in the vaginal lining. This type of vaginal cancer is more likely to spread to the lungs and lymph nodes.

Vaginal cancer is not common. Approximately 3,000 new cases are diagnosed annually in the U.S.


Vaginal cancer frequently does not trigger early symptoms but once they develop, may include:

  • Bleeding or discharge not related to menstrual periods

  • Pain during sexual intercourse

  • Pain in the pelvic area or when urinating

  • Lump in the vagina

  • Constipation

These symptoms may also be caused by other conditions so check with your physician if you are experiencing any of these symptoms

The exact cause of most types of vaginal cancers is not known. Some types of the human papillomavirus (HPV) are known to interfere with cells' tumor suppressor genes, which keep cells from growing too quickly and becoming cancers, and seem to contribute to the development of vaginal cancer.

Women exposed before birth to diethylstilbestrol, a drug given to pregnant women in the 1950s to help prevent miscarriages, are at an increased risk of developing a rare type of adenocarcinoma.

  • Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV)

  • Age – almost half of all cases of squamous cell cancer of the vagina occur in women over 70 years of age.

  • Exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES), a hormonal drug given to women prior to giving birth to prevent miscarriages between 1940 and 1971.

  • A history of abnormal cells in the cervix or uterus, or a history of cervical or uterine cancer.

Routine tests do not screen for vaginal cancer though it may be discovered during a pelvic exam or Pap smear.

Surgery and radiation are mainly used to treat vaginal cancer. Surgery can range from removing the cancerous cells to taking out part or the entire vagina to a total hysterectomy, depending on the stage of the disease. Radiation therapy may be given either before or after surgery.

Certain types of chemotherapy are effective in treating vaginal cancer, and research is being done to see if combining it with radiation will provide better outcomes than radiation alone.

Laser surgery and topical treatments are used to treat pre-cancers of the vagina.

Gardasil, a vaccine for the prevention of certain high-risk subtypes of HPV, has been shown to reduce the risk of vaginal cancer.

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