Sarcoma begins in the connective tissue and muscle tissue that make up your vaginal wall. Like vaginal melanomas, vaginal sarcomas are extremely rare. There are different types of sarcoma. Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common and mostly occurs in children. Leiomyosarcoma occurs most often in people over 50.
About 1 in 100,000 women and people assigned female at birth is diagnosed with vaginal cancer, usually squamous cell carcinoma. Vaginal cancer accounts for only 1 to 2% of gynecological cancers.
You’re over 60. Your risk of getting vaginal cancer increases with age. The average age that people get diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma (the most common type) is 60. Occasionally, people younger than 60 develop vaginal cancer.
You have human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that may increase your cervical cancer and vaginal cancer risk. Having multiple sex partners and being unvaccinated against HPV puts you at greater risk of infection.
You’ve been diagnosed with vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN). With VAIN, you have cells in your vaginal lining that aren’t normal, but they’re not cancer cells either. VAIN progresses to vaginal cancer in some people but not others. Researchers aren’t sure why. You’re more likely to develop VAIN if you have HPV.
You’ve had cervical cancer or cervical dysplasia. It’s possible to develop vaginal cancer after being treated for cervical cancer. Abnormal cells in your cervix, or cervical dysplasia, may increase your risk of vaginal cancer.
You’ve been exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES). DES is a synthetic form of estrogen prescribed between 1940 and 1971 to prevent pregnancy complications. You’re at increased risk of developing adenocarcinoma if your birthing parent took DES during pregnancy and you were exposed.
Vaginal cancer doesn’t always cause symptoms. You may not know you have it until your healthcare provider notices abnormal cells during a routine screening. This is why it’s important to get checked regularly. Your provider can detect vaginal cancer even when your body isn’t alerting you that something’s wrong.
Vaginal bleeding (unrelated to menstruation) after intercourse. Vaginal bleeding after menopause (when you no longer get periods). Vaginal discharge that’s watery, bloody or foul-smelling. Pain during intercourse. A noticeable mass in your vagina. Painful urination or frequently feeling the urge to pee. Constipation or black-colored stools. Feeling the urge to poop when your bowels are empty. Pelvic pain.
Vaginal Cancer TestAlthough 8 in 10 people with invasive vaginal cancer have one or more of these symptoms, these symptoms rarely indicate a condition as serious as vaginal cancer. Still, you should see your provider as soon as possible if you notice these signs.
Researchers don’t know for sure what causes vaginal cancer. Still, as with cervical cancer, there’s likely a relationship between vaginal cancer and high-risk strains of HPV. Studies have shown that many people diagnosed with vaginal cancer have also tested positive for antibodies associated with the types of HPV linked to cervical cancer.
Vaginal cancer cells behave as all cancer cells do. Instead of growing, multiplying and eventually dying like a normal cell, cancer cells continue to grow. The cells multiply until they form tumors. Over time, these tumors may spread to other parts of your body (metastasize) and invade healthy tissue.
Your healthcare provider will begin your examination by asking about your symptoms. You’ll most likely receive several tests to check for cancer or precancerous cells. Imaging procedures can help your provider see if your cancer has spread, a process called staging.
You’ll likely have a pelvic exam and a Pap smear (Pap test). If your provider finds abnormal cells, you may need further tests, like a colposcopy and a vaginal biopsy. A biopsy is the only test that can confirm a cancer diagnosis.
Pelvic exam: Your provider will visually inspect your vulva and insert two fingers inside your vagina to feel for any abnormalities. They’ll use a tool called a speculum to widen your vagina so that it’s easier to see your vaginal canal and cervix.
Pap smear: While holding your vagina open with a speculum, your provider will use a spatula-like tool and a brush to scrape cells from your cervix. These cells will get tested in a lab for signs of cancer or HPV.
Colposcopy: In this procedure, your doctor uses a lighted instrument called a colposcope to look for abnormal cells in your vagina and cervix.
Biopsy: A biopsy often accompanies colposcopy. Your provider will take a tissue sample that will be sent to a lab and tested for cancer cells.
Staging allows your provider to determine how advanced your cancer is. Vaginal cancer is staged in three ways, based on how far the tumor has progressed in your vagina, whether it has spread to your lymph nodes, and whether it has spread to other parts of your body. These three categories are called T (tumor), N (nodes), and M (whether it has spread, or metastasized).
Your provider can stage your cancer by using information from the test results and by performing procedures that allow them to see inside your body.