Vaginal cancer commonly occurs when cells in the lining of the vagina begin to rapidly grow, crowding out or destroying healthy tissue. As with most forms of cancer, the earlier vaginal cancer can be diagnosed, the better the treatment outcome will be. Speak with a Bayhealth cancer expert about screenings and treatment options.
Types of Vaginal Cancer
The vagina, which connects the cervix (lower part of uterus) to the vulva (genitals), can develop different kinds of cancerous cells. The following are among the various types of vaginal cancer.
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma: The most common form of vaginal cancer (representing roughly 90 percent of cases), squamous cell carcinoma begins in the flat cells that line the surface of the vagina.
- Adenocarcinoma: Often linked to an out-of-use miscarriage prevention drug called diethylstilbestrol (DES), this cancer forms in the glandular cells of the vagina.
- Melanoma: While melanoma commonly forms on parts of the body that receive regular sun exposure, it can also form in the pigment-producing cells of the vagina.
- Sarcoma: A form of cancer that often affects the cells of muscles, bones, and connective tissue, sarcoma can develop deep in the wall of the vagina.
Signs and Symptoms
Though vaginal cancer doesn’t always present noticeable symptoms during its early stages, the following are among the common signs of the disease.
- A lump in the vagina
- Atypical bleeding from the vagina, including after sex or menopause
- Bowel issues, including constipation
- Discharge from the vagina that is watery, bloody or odorous
- Frequent urination
- Leg swelling
- Pain during urination or sex
- Pelvic pain
Risk Factors and Prevention
While the majority of vaginal cancer cases are linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is transmitted through sexual contact, other risk factors include the following.
- Age: The most common form of vaginal cancer (squamous cell) rarely occurs in women under the age of 40. Many women aren’t affected until 70 or older.
- HIV Infection: Infection by the human immunodeficiency (HIV) virus can increase the risk of developing vaginal cancer at some point in your life.
- Smoking: Cigarette use can double the risk for vaginal cancer as well as suppress your body’s ability to fight HPV.
- Miscarriage Prevention Medicine: If your birthing parent took diethylstilbestrol (DES), a synthetic form of estrogen that was prescribed in the U.S. from 1940 until the early 1970s, you may have a heightened risk for developing vaginal cancer.
- Cervical Cancer: Because cervical cancer (or precancer) has many of the same risk factors as vaginal cancer, women who have one may be at risk for the other.
Receiving regular pelvic exams and Pap tests is the most effective way to identify early signs of vaginal cancer. You could also consider getting the HPV vaccine.
How We Diagnose Vaginal Cancer
We use the following procedures to diagnose vaginal cancer.
- Pelvic Exam: Using an instrument called a speculum, our medical expert examines the inside of your vagina and cervix for signs of cancer.
- Pap Test: Typically performed during a pelvic exam, a Pap test (or Pap smear) involves removing cells from the inside of your vagina or cervix for analysis.
- Colposcopy: Our medical expert uses a thin, lighted instrument (colposcope) to examine the inside of your vagina and cervix.
- Biopsy: Often performed during a colposcopy, a biopsy involves removing a piece of tissue from your vagina for examination in a pathology lab.
- Computerized Tomography (CT): Certified experts use computer-processed X-rays to generate a scan of your body in “slices” to create highly accurate images.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): A combination of a magnetic field and radio waves creates three-dimensional images of specific areas of your body to determine if disease or physical abnormalities are present.
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan: A small amount of radioactive material (which is known to absorb into cancer cells more than normal cells) is injected into your bloodstream, allowing a scanner to locate the cancerous cells.
Treatment Options
Our multidisciplinary team works collaboratively to outline a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. Experts from a range of specialties will discuss your condition and determine the best plan of action. Factors we consider when developing your treatment plan include the stage and location of the cancer and your personal medical history.
Treatments for vaginal cancer include the following.
Medical Therapy
Our board-certified oncologists prescribe your medical therapy, and our highly trained nursing staff administers that therapy intravenously, orally or through injection.
Among the medical treatments we provide are the following.
- Targeted Drug Therapy: This type of cancer treatment uses drugs to “target” cancer cells without affecting normal cells.
- Chemotherapy: This drug treatment uses powerful chemicals to kill fast-growing cancer cells in your body.
- Immunotherapy: This treatment option boosts your immune system, empowering it to fight and destroy cancer cells.
Radiation Therapy
Our team of board-certified radiation oncologists may use external beam radiation in combination with other treatments to address your cancer. Employing sophisticated technology, our therapists concentrate high-energy beams of radiation on the precise parts of your body affected by disease. This safe and accurate procedure may be administered routinely over a period of days or weeks.
Surgical Approach
Our specialized surgery team uses the latest in minimally invasive techniques to remove the parts of the vagina affected by disease. Adhering to evidence-based guidelines, our robot-assisted surgical procedures provide safe treatment for all stages of cancer.
Learn more about cancer treatment options at Bayhealth.
Support Services
Before, during and after your cancer treatments, our experts remain dedicated to improving your quality of life. Our care team supports you in establishing healthy routines that help you stay in control of your daily symptoms. We also host support groups that provide patients and families opportunities to connect and share their experiences — because a strong network of support can help to make the realities of cancer more manageable.
- Cancer Support Community: A statewide non-profit organization, the Cancer Support Community is dedicated to helping people manage the emotional aspects of their cancer journey. Learn more about the Cancer Support Community.
Explore our classes, events and support groups.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies that test cutting-edge drugs, procedures and technologies with the purpose of establishing new or better ways of treating cancer. The skilled nurses in our Clinical Research Program can help you find clinical trial options for your specific cancer.
Speak with a Bayhealth expert about cancer treatment options.