Vaginal Cancer Summary Vaginal cancer is a rare type of cancer. It is more common in women 60 and older. You are also more likely to get it if you have had a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection or if your mother took diethylstilbestrol (DES) when she was pregnant. Doctors prescribed DES in the 1950’s to prevent miscarriages. You are also at higher risk if you have had abnormal cells in the vagina, cervix, or uterus. It often doesn’t have early symptoms. However, see your doctor if you notice Bleeding that is not your period A vaginal lump Pelvic pain A Pap test can find abnormal cells that may be cancer. Vaginal cancer can often be cured in its early stages. Treatment might include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. NIH: National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute Array After chemotherapy – discharge Pelvic (between the hips) radiation – discharge Vaginal tumors Find an Expert American Cancer Society American Cancer Society Find a Cancer Doctor American Society of Clinical Oncology Find a Gynecologic Oncologist Foundation for Women’s Cancer National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute Organizations That Offer Support Services National Cancer Institute Prevention and Risk Factors Can Vaginal Cancer Be Prevented? American Cancer Society What Are the Risk Factors for Vaginal Cancer? American Cancer Society Living With Cancer and Stress Foundation for Women’s Cancer Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Vaginal Neoplasms National Institutes of Health Diagnosis and Tests Colposcopy American Academy of Family Physicians How Is Vaginal Cancer Diagnosed? American Cancer Society Stages of Vaginal Cancer National Cancer Institute Reference Desk Dictionary of Cancer Terms National Cancer Institute Normal Female Reproductive Anatomy National Cancer Institute Related Issues Diethylstilbestrol (DES) and Cancer National Cancer Institute How Will Cancer Affect My Sex Life? American Cancer Society Sex and Women with Cancer — Overview American Cancer Society Start Here General Information about Vaginal Cancer National Cancer Institute Vaginal Cancer American Society of Clinical Oncology What Is Vaginal Cancer? American Cancer Society Statistics and Research Increased Risk of Rare Cancer as DES Daughters Age Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Encyclopedia Pelvic CT scan Journal Articles Vaginal Cancer Videos and Tutorials Surgical Tutorial of a Robotic-Assisted Anterior Pelvic Exenteration OR-Live Symptoms Symptoms of Vaginal and Vulvar Cancers Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Treatments and Therapies Treatment Option Overview (Vaginal Cancer) National Cancer Institute Treatment Options by Stage (Vaginal Cancer) National Cancer Institute Patient Handouts Understanding Chemotherapy National Cancer Institute Vaginal and Vulvar Cancer Centers for Disease Control and Prevention What to Know about External Beam Radiation Therapy National Cancer Institute
