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</noscript></div><div class="main"><div id="ency_summary"><p>Vaginal cancer is cancer of the vagina, a female reproductive organ.</p></div><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Causes</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-1" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-1"><p>Most vaginal cancers occur when another cancer, such as <a test="test" href="./000893.htm">cervical</a>, vulvar, or <a test="test" href="./000910.htm">endometrial cancer</a>, spreads. This is called secondary vaginal cancer.</p><p>Cancer that starts in the vagina is called primary vaginal cancer. This type of cancer is rare. Most primary vaginal cancers start in skin-like cells called squamous cells. This cancer is known as squamous cell carcinoma. The other types include:</p><ul><li>Adenocarcinoma</li><li>Melanoma</li><li>Sarcoma</li></ul><p>The cause of squamous cell carcinoma of the vagina is unknown. But a history of cervical cancer is common in women with squamous cell carcinoma of the vagina. So it may be associated with <a test="test" href="./000886.htm">human papilloma virus</a> (HPV) infection.</p><p>Most women with squamous cell cancer of the vagina are over 50. </p><p>Adenocarcinoma of the vagina tends to affect younger women. The average age at which this cancer is diagnosed is 19. Women whose mothers took the medicine diethylstilbestrol (DES) to prevent <a test="test" href="./001488.htm">miscarriages</a> during the first 3 months of pregnancy are more likely to develop vaginal adenocarcinoma.</p><p>Sarcoma of the vagina is a rare cancer that mainly occurs in infancy and early childhood.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Symptoms</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-2" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-2"><p>Symptoms of vaginal cancer can include any of the following:</p><ul><li>Bleeding after having sex</li><li>Painless vaginal bleeding and discharge not due to a normal period</li><li>Pain in the pelvis or vagina</li></ul><p>Some women have no symptoms.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Exams and Tests</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-3" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-3"><p>In women with no symptoms, the cancer may be found during a routine pelvic exam and <a test="test" href="./003911.htm">Pap test</a>.</p><p>Other tests to diagnose vaginal cancer include:</p><ul><li><a test="test" href="./003416.htm">Biopsy</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./003913.htm">Colposcopy</a></li></ul><p>Other tests that may be done to check if the cancer has spread include:</p><ul><li><a test="test" href="./003804.htm">Chest x-ray</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./003330.htm">CT scan</a> and <a test="test" href="./003335.htm">MRI</a> of the abdomen and pelvis </li><li><a test="test" href="./003827.htm">PET scan</a></li></ul><p>Other tests that may be done to know the stage of the vaginal cancer include:</p><ul><li><a test="test" href="./003903.htm">Cystoscopy</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./003817.htm">Barium enema</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./003782.htm">Intravenous urography</a> (x-ray of kidney, ureters and bladder using contrast material)</li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Treatment</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-4" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-4"><p>Treatment of vaginal cancer depends on:</p><ul><li>The type of cancer</li><li>How far the disease has spread</li></ul><p>Surgery is sometimes used if the cancer is small and located at the upper part of the vagina. Most women are treated with <a test="test" href="./001918.htm">radiation</a>. If the tumor is cervical cancer that has spread to the vagina, radiation and <a test="test" href="./002324.htm">chemotherapy</a> are both given.</p><p>Sarcoma may be treated with a combination of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Support Groups</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-5" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-5"><p>You can ease the stress of illness by joining a <a test="test" href="./002166.htm">support group</a> whose members share common experiences and problems.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Outlook (Prognosis)</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-6" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-6"><p>The outlook for women with vaginal cancer depends on the size and the stage of disease and the specific type of tumor.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Possible Complications</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-7" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-7"><p>Vaginal cancer may spread to other areas of the body. Complications can occur from radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>When to Contact a Medical Professional</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-8" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-8"><p>Contact your health care provider for an appointment if:</p><ul><li>You notice bleeding after sex</li><li>You have persistent vaginal bleeding or discharge</li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Prevention</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-9" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-9"><p>There are no definite ways to prevent this cancer.</p><p>The <a test="test" href="./007648.htm">HPV vaccine</a> is approved to help prevent cervical cancer. This vaccine may also decrease the risk of getting some other HPV-associated cancers, such as vaginal cancer. You can increase your chance of early detection by getting regular pelvic examinations and Pap smears.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Alternative Names</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-Alt" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-Alt"><p>Vaginal cancer; Cancer - vagina; Tumor - vaginal</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section sec-mb"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Images</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-tnails" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/1112t.jpg" alt="Female reproductive anatomy" title="Female reproductive anatomy" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/1112.htm">Female reproductive anatomy</a></li>
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-Ref"><p>Frumovitz M. Neoplastic diseases of the vulva and vagina. . In: Gershenson DM, Lentz GM, Valea FA, Lobo RA, eds. <em>Comprehensive Gynecology. </em>8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 30.</p><p>Jhingran A, Russell AH, Seiden MV, et al. Cancers of the cervix, vulva, and vagina. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. <em>Abeloff's Clinical Oncology.</em> 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 84.</p><p>PDQ Adult Treatment Editorial Board. Vaginal Cancer Treatment (PDQ): Health Professional Version. 2024 Feb 16. In: <em>PDQ Cancer Information Summaries</em> [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Cancer Institute (US); 2002. PMID: 26389242 <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26389242/" target="_blank">pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26389242/</a>.</p></div></div></section>
<section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Review Date 3/31/2024</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-version" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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<div id="section-version" class="section-body"><p>Updated by: Howard Goodman, MD, Gynecologic Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists &amp; Research Institute, West Palm Beach, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.</p>
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