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.
While several types of cancer can spread to your vagina from other places in your body, cancer that begins in your vagina (primary vaginal cancer) is rare.
A diagnosis of early-stage vaginal cancer has the best chance for a cure. Vaginal cancer that spreads beyond the vagina is much more difficult to treat.
Products & Services Assortment Women's Health Products from Mayo Clinic Store Show more products from Mayo Clinic Symptoms Female reproductive organs Female reproductive systemOpen pop-up dialog box Early vaginal cancer may not cause any signs and symptoms. As it progresses, vaginal cancer may cause signs and symptoms such as:
Unusual vaginal bleeding, for example, after intercourse or after menopause Watery vaginal discharge A lump or mass in your vagina Painful urination Frequent urination Constipation Pelvic pain When to see a doctor See your doctor if you have any signs and symptoms related to vaginal cancer, such as abnormal vaginal bleeding. Since vaginal cancer doesn't always cause signs and symptoms, follow your doctor's recommendations about when you should have routine pelvic exams.
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It's not clear what causes vaginal cancer. In general, cancer begins when healthy cells acquire a genetic mutation that turns normal cells into abnormal cells.
Healthy cells grow and multiply at a set rate, eventually dying at a set time. Cancer cells grow and multiply out of control, and they don't die. The accumulating abnormal cells form a mass (tumor).
Cancer cells invade nearby tissues and can break off from an initial tumor to spread elsewhere in the body (metastasize).
Vaginal Cancer After MenopauseVaginal cancer is divided into different types based on the type of cell where the cancer began. Vaginal cancer types include:
Vaginal squamous cell carcinoma, which begins in the thin, flat cells (squamous cells) that line the surface of the vagina, and is the most common type Vaginal adenocarcinoma, which begins in the glandular cells on the surface of your vagina Vaginal melanoma, which develops in the pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) of your vagina Vaginal sarcoma, which develops in the connective tissue cells or muscles cells in the walls of your vagina Risk factors Factors that may increase your risk of vaginal cancer
Increasing age. Your risk of vaginal cancer increases as you age. Most people who are diagnosed with vaginal cancer are older than 60.
Atypical cells in the vagina called vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia. Being diagnosed with vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) increases your risk of vaginal cancer.
With VAIN, cells in the vagina appear different from normal cells, but not different enough to be considered cancer. A small number of those with VAIN will eventually develop vaginal cancer, though doctors aren't sure what causes some cases to develop into cancer and others to remain benign.
VAIN is frequently caused by the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause cervical, vaginal and vulvar cancers, among others. Vaccines that prevent some types of HPV infection are available.
Exposure to miscarriage prevention drug. If your mother took a drug called diethylstilbestrol (DES) while pregnant in the 1950s you may have an increased risk of a certain type of vaginal cancer called clear cell adenocarcinoma.
Other risk factors that have been linked to an increased risk of vaginal cancer include: Multiple sexual partners Early age at first intercourse Smoking HIV infection Complications Vaginal cancer may spread (metastasize) to distant areas of your body, such as your lungs, liver and bones. Prevention There is no sure way to prevent vaginal cancer. However, you may reduce your risk if you: Undergo regular pelvic exams and Pap tests. You can increase the chance that vaginal cancer is discovered early by having routine pelvic exams and Pap tests. When discovered in its earliest stages, vaginal cancer is more likely to be cured. Discuss with your doctor when to begin these tests and how often to repeat them.
Ask your doctor about the HPV vaccine. Receiving a vaccination to prevent HPV infection may reduce your risk of vaginal cancer and other HPV-related cancers. Ask your doctor whether an HPV vaccine is appropriate for you. Don't smoke. If you smoke, quit. If you don't smoke, don't start. Smoking increases the risk of vaginal cancer. Risk Factors and Preventing Vaginal Cancer There is no way to know for sure if you will get or if you can prevent vaginal cancer. However, knowing your risks and ways you may prevent vaginal cancer can only give you a better chance for getting treatment. Vaginal Cancer Risks You may want to consider having genetic testing to find out if you have a genetic risk for developing cancer. If you do, you will want to discuss it with your doctor and a genetic counselor. A next step may be to get early and regular screening. If you experience certain symptoms, your doctor will likely suggest that you have diagnostic testing for vaginal cancer.
In addition, the following factors may increase the chance of your getting vaginal cancer: Any health condition that weakens your immune system (such as HIV, the virus that can lead to AIDS), making it hard for your body to fight off health problems Also having cervical cancer Human papillomavirus (HPV) Smoking Preventing Vaginal Cancer Since vaginal cancer may be caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), having young girls—11 and 12 years old and even as young as nine years old—vaccinated for HPV is one way to prevent vaginal cancer. If teens and young women—13 to 26 year old—did not get the vaccine at a younger age, there is still time for the HPV vaccination.
Maintaining a healthy life style, is always a positive way to maintain your health. Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the cervix. The cervix is a hollow cylinder that connects the lower part of a woman’s uterus to her vagina. Most cervical cancers begin in cells on the surface of the cervix. Symptoms of cervical cancer Many women with cervical cancer don’t realize they have the disease early on because it usually doesn’t cause symptoms until the late stages. When symptoms do appear, they’re easily mistaken for common conditions like menstrual periods and urinary tract infections (UTIs).