Vaginal Cancer

This information was provided with permission from The Gynecologic Cancer Foundation.

Vaginal cancer is cancer that starts in the cells lining of the vagina.

Symptoms: Vaginal cancer, especially early or precancerous vaginal cancer, may not produce any signs, but bleeding or abnormal discharge may be symptoms of this type of cancer.

Risk Factors: Risk factors for vaginal cancer include age---60 years of age and older, HPV infection, smoking and cervical cancer. 

Screening/Prevention: Precancer of the vagina and early vaginal cancer can be diagnosed through a routine pelvic exam and Pap test. Although the HPV vaccine was not approved by the FDA to prevent vaginal cancer, being vaccinated against HPV may help prevent this disease.

Incidence: Vaginal cancer is very rare. It is estimated that there will be about 2,500 new cases diagnosed and approimately 780 deaths from vaginal cancer in the United States during 2011. (American Cancer Society)