Queensland Centre for Gynaecological Cancer Research

Vaginal Cancer

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Vaginal cancer is one of the rarest types of cancer affecting the female reproductive system. Vaginal cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the tissues of the vagina grow in an uncontrolled way. Vaginal cancer is rare with less than 123 women diagnosed each year in Australia. Due to its rareness, knowledge about risk factors is sparse.

  • An estimated 286 women live with vaginal cancer in Australia.

  • In 2013–2017, females diagnosed with vaginal cancer had a 52% chance of surviving for five years.

"We need to talk – I have vaginal cancer" - Read Mia's Story.

Symptoms

Consult a doctor if you have any of these symptoms. Vaginal cancer often does not cause early symptoms but may be found during a routine cervical screening test.

Known risk factors

Vaginal cancer is not infectious. The known risk factors for vaginal cancer are:

Screening

You may undergo a cervical screening test to check the cells inside the vagina and cervix as part of the physical examination. Results may show early cell changes in the vaginal lining.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Once vaginal cancer is suspected, you should b referred to a gynaecologic oncologist. Based on the results of the tests, your doctor will tell you the stage of the cancer. Staging describes the size of the cancer and if and how far it has spread beyond the vagina.

While most cancer is of “skin” type (squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma), some cancers are very aggressive arising from stromal tissue (sarcomas) or from glandular tissue (adenocarcinomas). Treatment involves surgical excision for very early cancers and radiotherapy, chemotherapy or a combination of both for more advanced cancers.

Lymph node dissection is a surgical procedure in which lymph nodes are removed and checked under a microscope for signs of cancer. If the cancer is in the upper vagina, the pelvic lymph nodes may be removed. If the cancer is in the lower vagina, lymph nodes in the groin may be removed. 

See the Cancer Australia website for more information on diagnosis testing and stages and treatment options.

Source: Cancer Australia, Cancer Council Australia