Vaginal Cancer: Causes, Types, Symptoms and Treatment

What is vaginal cancer?

Vaginal cancer originates in the tissues of the vagina which connects the cervix (the bottom part of the uterus) to the outside.

Stages of Vaginal Cancer

Staging of vaginal cancer tells doctors how much the cancer has developed and supports proper treatment. Staging begins from Stage 0 and goes to Stage IV, according to FIGO (International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics).

Stage 0 (Carcinoma in Situ)

• Another name for carcinoma in situ is Vaginal Intraepithelial Neoplasia (VAIN) 3
• The abnormal cells are on the surface of the vagina, beneath the lining.
• Not yet invasive cancer

Stage I

• All cancerous growths remain on the vaginal wall.
• Lymph node involvement was absent as well as any growth into nearby organs or tissues

Stage II

• Cancer is now found in the tissues next to where it started in the vaginal wall
• The condition has not reached the pelvic floor yet

Stage III

• Cancer is present in the pelvic wall.
• May spread to the lymph nodes in or around the body part
• It might cause the ureters (tubes between kidney and bladder) to get blocked.

Stage IV

Advanced stage is split into:

• Stage IVA: Cancer is found in the bladder or in the rectum.
• Stage IVB: Cancer can be spotted in distant organs, specifically the lungs, liver or bones.

Vaginal Cancer Symptoms

Vaginal cancer felt different based on the size and region where the cancer is located. 

Early signs of vaginal cancer:

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Watery or foul-smelling vaginal discharge
• Pain during intercourse (dyspareunia)
• A lump or mass in the vagina
• Pelvic or vaginal pain
• Painful urination or difficulty urinating
• Constipation or pain during bowel movements
• Swelling in the legs

Causes of Vaginal Cancer

Vaginal cancer is a less common form of gynecologic cancer that starts in the lining of the vagina. Although the exact cause is not always understood, some major risk factors for vaginal cancer have been identified.

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection
• Age
• Vaginal Intraepithelial Neoplasia (VaIN)
• Diethylstilbestrol (DES) Exposure
• Smoking
• History of Cervical or Vulvar Cancer
• Weakened Immune System
• Chronic Vaginal Irritation

Vaginal Cancer Diagnosis Methods

These are the usual ways doctors find and confirm vaginal cancer:

Pelvic Examination

• A doctor checks the outside of the vagina and the inside of the pelvis to look for lumps, sores or any unusual changes.

Pap smear and HPV are used for screening

• People usually get a Pap smear for cervical cancer screening, but it may on occasion detect any unusual vaginal cells. When done right, HPV testing can pick out high-risk HPV infections which might cause vaginal cancer.

Biopsy

• If your doctor notices an abnormal area, they may take a small sample (biopsy) from your vagina and use a microscope to make sure cancer cells are there.

Colposcopy

• A colposcope instrument is brought in to help in closely examining the vagina and the cervix. Taking a biopsy is possible as part of this surgery.

Imaging Tests

Doctors might order relevant exams to check how much cancer there is and where it is located.

• A type of scan called MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
• A CT (Computed Tomography) scan
• The use of a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan
• They make it possible to check if other tissues near the cancer, lymph nodes and remote organs are involved.

Cystoscopy and Proctoscopy

• When it’s thought that cancer is in the bladder or rectum, these tests give a clear view and allow sampling of the area.

Blood Tests

• Blood tests may help determine your overall health and the condition of your organs before treating vaginal cancer, even though it isn’t used for diagnosis.

Vaginal Cancer Treatment Options

Surgery

Mostly utilized for vaginal cancer in its early stages or for recurring tumors.

• Wide local excision: Small, localized tumor
• Partial or total vaginectomy: For the upper or lower vaginal tumors
• Pelvic exenteration: Rare, for extensive or recurring cancer (vagina, uterus, bladder, rectum, etc.)

Radiation Therapy

• First-line treatment for the majority of vaginal cancers, particularly Stage II–IV or if surgery is not an option.

Types:

• External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) – Treats pelvis and tumor location
• Brachytherapy (internal radiation) – Inserts radioactive sources into the vagina

Chemotherapy

• For use together with radiation (chemoradiation) or for advanced/recurrent disease.

Targeted & Immunotherapy (Experimental / Rare)

• Used primarily for metastatic or advanced vaginal cancers (particularly HPV-related).
• Immunotherapy (e.g., Pembrolizumab) – for PD-L1 positive or MSI-high tumors
• Clinical trials may provide access to new targeted agents

Vaginal Cancer Survival Rate

The chances of survival for vaginal cancer are mostly decided by the severity of the cancer, what type it is and the person’s health. Since vaginal cancer is uncommon, precise statistics depend on many things, but according to stage, these can be understood:

How Long People Live After Having Vaginal Cancer (About 5 Years)

• The survival rate for Stage 0 (Carcinoma in situ) is 95-100%.
• Stage I (Localized cancer) affects 70-80% of patients.
• Stage II (when cancer reaches nearby tissues): 50-60%
• In Stage III, the cancer has reached the pelvic wall or lymph nodes (between 30-40% of cases).
• Only about 1 in 5 people survive stage IV (cancer spreads to nearby organs or distant areas): Less than 20%.

How common is vaginal cancer?

Fewer than one in ten women get vaginal cancer. It only makes up about 1-2% of all gynecologic cancers.

How frequent is it to happen?

• About 1 woman in 100,000 is predicted to have this condition every year
• Reports indicate that cases happen most often in women over 60.
• Less commonly, than those who have cervical, ovarian or uterine cancer.

What makes it so infrequent?

• Not as many risks for cancer growth are found in the vagina.
• Proper screening for cervical cancer (Pap smears) may also identify issues affecting the vaginal area.

Vaginal Cancer vs Cervical Cancer

Vaginal Cancer

• Vaginal cancer starts in the vagina which is the passageway starting at the cervix and going to the outside of the body. 
• About 1-2% of gynecologic cancers are vaginal cancers which mean it is not very common. 
• Although HPV plays a role in vaginal cancer, other factors may also contribute, mostly for women over age 50. 
• Other kinds of vaginal cancer besides squamous cell carcinoma are sometimes melanoma or sarcoma. 
• Bleeding after sex or menopause, abnormal vaginal discharge, lumps found in the vagina and pain in the pelvic region are common vaginal cancer symptoms. 
• There is not a set screening test used for vaginal cancer.
• Doctors find that early diagnosis of vaginal cancer helps, because the prognosis will likely be better than if the cancer goes undetected longer.

Cervical Cancer

• Cervical cancer starts in the cervix, the entrance to the uterus. 
• Cervical cancer is found more often around the globe and is still a major reason for cancer deaths among women, mainly in places without regular screening. 
• Persistent HPV infection is almost always what causes cervical cancer.
• Cervical cancer is frequently composed of adenocarcinoma (cancer that starts in gland cells). 
• People may experience abnormal bleeding after sex, bleeding between their periods or after the menopause, pelvic pain and different types of discharge when they have cervical cancer. 
• Routine use of Pap smear and HPV tests for cervical cancer greatly increases the chance for early detection and better care results. 
• The screening method tends to find early-stage cervical cancer earlier which often results in better outcomes.

Vaginal Cancer in Older Women

Vaginal cancer is mostly found in older women because it often happens to those who are above 60 years of age. Here are the main things to know about vaginal cancer for people in this age group:

Explaining Why It Happens More in Older Women?

• These types of cancers usually develop much later, often many years or decades following HPV infections or other cell changes.
• The immune system weakening with age may help infections such as HPV to become a threat.
• There are hormonal changes: After menopause, the vaginal lining becomes thinner and less protected.
• Past history of related cancers: Women may have had precancerous lesions on the cervix or vulva which raises their risk.

Best Hospitals for Vaginal Cancer Treatment

• Top Hospital for vaginal cancer treatment:
• Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon
• Medanta-The Medicity, Gurgaon
• Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon
• Max Hospital, Saket
• Apollo Hospital, Delhi

Best Doctors/Surgeons

• Dr. Rupinder Sekhon
• Dr. Sabhyata Gupta
• Dr. Rama Joshi
• Dr. Kanika Batra Modi
• Dr. Amita Mahajan

Why Choose GetWellGo for Vaginal Cancer Treatment?

GetWellGo is regarded as a leading supplier of healthcare services. We help our foreign clients choose the best treatment locations that suit their needs both financially and medically.

We offer:

• Complete transparency
• Fair costs.
• 24 hour availability.
• Medical E-visas
• Online consultation from recognized Indian experts.
• Assistance in selecting India's top hospitals for vaginal cancer treatment.
• Expert gynae oncologist with a strong track record of success
• Assistance during and after the course of treatment.
• Language Support
• Travel and Accommodation Services
• Case manager assigned to every patient to provide seamless support in and out of the hospital like appointment booking
• Local SIM Cards
• Currency Exchange
• Arranging Patient’s local food