HEALTH INSIGHTS

Vaginal Cancer: Frequently Asked Questions

March 21, 2017

Vaginal Cancer: Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about vaginal cancer.

Illustration of the anatomy of the female pelvic area

What is vaginal cancer?

Vaginal cancer is cancer that starts in the vagina. It is less common than other types of female reproductive cancers. The vagina is a 3- to 4-inch-long tube. It connects a woman's womb, called the uterus, to the outside of her body. A thin cell layer called the epithelium lines the walls of the vagina. This layer is made up of squamous epithelial cells.

Most vaginal cancers begin in the epithelium. They are called vaginal squamous cell carcinomas. These are other less common types of vaginal cancer:

  • Adenocarcinoma

  • Malignant melanoma

  • Sarcoma

Who gets vaginal cancer?

Most women diagnosed with squamous cell vaginal cancer are older than 60. It is uncommon in women younger than 40.

Who is at risk for vaginal cancer?

Certain factors can make one woman more likely to get vaginal cancer than another woman. These are called risk factors. A woman can have all of the risk factors and still not get the disease. Or she can have no known risk factors and still get vaginal cancer. Healthcare providers are not exactly sure what causes vaginal cancer, but these are some things that may increase risk:

  • Age. Women over the age of 60 are more at risk for vaginal squamous cell carcinoma.

  • HPV infection. Women infected with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) are at higher risk of getting vaginal cancer. High-risk sexual behavior, such as having many sexual partners, can increase a woman's risk for HPV infection. The risk is even higher if a woman with HPV has a suppressed immune system from HIV/AIDS or another immune system problem. This makes it harder for the body to fight the HPV infection.

  • Cervical cancer. The cervix is the lower end of the uterus. Having cervical cancer increases the risk for squamous cell carcinoma of the vagina. Having precancerous conditions of the cervix may also increase this risk. This is thought to be because cervical and vaginal cancers share similar risk factors.

  • Smoking. As with many other cancers, smoking increases the risk of vaginal cancer.

  • DES. Women whose mothers took the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES) when pregnant with them are at higher risk for getting clear cell adenocarcinoma of the vagina.

  • Vaginal adenosis. This is a change in cells lining the vagina that increases the risk of clear cells adenocarcinoma. This change makes them look more like cells found in areas of the uterus, cervix, and/or fallopian tubes. Adenosis happens in almost all women who were exposed to DES while in utero. In women not exposed to DES who have adenosis, the risk for clear cell adenocarcinoma still exists, but is very low.

What are the symptoms of vaginal cancer?

A woman can have vaginal cancer without having any symptoms. Early vaginal cancers may not cause symptoms. Women with invasive vaginal cancer that is spreading may have these symptoms:

  • Vaginal bleeding after menopause or bleeding that's not related to menstrual periods

  • Vaginal bleeding after sex

  • Vaginal discharge that is abnormal

  • A mass that can be felt

  • Pain during sex

  • Pain when urinating

  • Constipation

  • Constant pain in the pelvis

These symptoms do not mean that a person definitely has vaginal cancer. Other things could cause them. A woman should talk to her healthcare provider if she is having any of these symptoms.

How is vaginal cancer diagnosed?

The healthcare provider asks questions about a woman's symptoms, personal and family history, and risk factors for vaginal cancer. The healthcare provider will also do a physical exam, including a Pap test and pelvic exam, to check for signs of the cancer. The healthcare provider may order 1 or more of these tests to help make the diagnosis:

  • Colposcopy. This is done with a colposcope, an instrument with magnifying lenses, that allows the healthcare provider to see the vaginal walls and the surface of the cervix closely and clearly.

  • Biopsy. This is done if something suspicious is found in the physical exam or the colposcopy. A piece of tissue will be taken and looked at under a microscope to see if it contains cancer cells.

Should every woman get a second opinion for a diagnosis of vaginal cancer?

Many people with cancer get a second opinion from another healthcare provider. There are many reasons to get a second opinion. Here are some of those reasons:

  • Not feeling comfortable with the treatment decision

  • Being diagnosed with a rare type of cancer

  • Having several options for how to treat the cancer

  • Not being able to see a cancer expert

A woman may have a hard time deciding which treatment to have. It may help to have a second healthcare provider review the diagnosis and treatment choices before starting treatment. It is important to remember that, in most cases, a short delay in treatment will not lower the chance that it will work. Some health insurance companies even require that a person with cancer seek a second opinion, and many other companies will pay for a second opinion if asked.

How can I get a second opinion for vaginal cancer?

There are many ways to get a second opinion:

  • Ask a primary care healthcare provider. He or she may be able to suggest a specialist. You should work with a healthcare provider who specializes in dealing with gynecologic cancer. This healthcare provider is called a gynecologic oncologist, a subspecialist with advanced training in the diagnosis and treatment of gynecologic cancers. Never be afraid to ask for a second opinion.

  • Call the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service. The number is 800-4-CANCER (800-422-6237). This service has information about treatment facilities. These include cancer centers and other programs supported by the National Cancer Institute.

  • Seek other choices. Check with a local medical society, a nearby hospital or medical school, or a support group to get names of healthcare providers who can provide a second opinion. Or ask other people who've had cancer who they might suggest.

How is vaginal cancer treated?

Treatment for vaginal cancer is either local or systemic. Local treatments remove, destroy, or control the cancer cells in the vagina. Surgery and radiation are local treatments and are the most commonly used to treat vaginal cancer. Systemic treatments are used to destroy or control cancer cells that have travelled throughout the whole body. Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment. A woman may have just 1 treatment or a combination of therapies.

What's new in vaginal cancer research?

Cancer research should give you hope. Healthcare providers and researchers around the world are learning more about vaginal cancer. They are looking for and studying ways to prevent it. They are also finding better ways to detect and treat this cancer.

Researchers are looking at genes for controlling cancer growth and best ways to use radiation therapy. New regimens of chemotherapy are being studied. Surgeons are developing new ways to repair the vagina after surgery to remove cancer.

What are clinical trials?

Clinical trials are studies of new kinds of cancer treatments. Healthcare providers use clinical trials to learn how well new treatments work and what their side effects are. Promising treatments are ones that work better or have fewer side effects than the current treatments. People who participate in these studies get to use treatments before the FDA approves them for the general public. People who join trials also help researchers learn more about cancer and help future cancer patients.

Updated:  

March 21, 2017

Reviewed By:  

Cunningham, Louise, RN,Stump-Sutliff, Kim, RN, MSN, AOCNS