Vaginal cancer is a rare type of cancer that can occur anywhere in the vagina.

Symptoms:

• The main symptoms of vaginal cancer include:
  • A lump in the vagina.
  • Ulcers and other skin changes in or around the vagina.
• Other symptoms may include:
  • Bleeding from the vagina after menopause.
  • Bleeding after sex or pain during sex.
  • Smelly or bloodstained vaginal discharge.
  • Bleeding between periods.
  • An itch in the vagina

Risk Factors:

• It is most common in women aged 75 and over.
• However, anyone with a vagina can develop vaginal cancer.
• The vagina is the tube between the vulva and the opening of the womb (cervix).
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the primary cause of vaginal cancer.

Prevention:

• Regular cervical screening (Pap smears) can help detect abnormalities before they turn into cancer.
• Vaginal cancer usually grows very slowly, and its seriousness depends on factors such as size, spread, and overall health.

Screening Options available at JNCHRC

• Pelvic exam
• Inspecting the vagina with a magnifying instrument (colposcopy)
• Removing a sample of vaginal tissue for testing (biopsy)
• Pap smear (Pap test)
• HPV testing
• Ultrasound
• Endoscopy
• Computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)