This information has been reviewed by:
Tarnya Martin, cancer nurse, BA (Nursing) & Grad. Dip. Child & Adol. grief counselling
The vagina is part of the female reproductive system.
Vaginal cancer is cancer that begins in tissue in the vagina. This is a primary vaginal cancer
Some cancers begin in another part of the body (cervix, uterus, bladder or bowel) and spread to the vagina. These are known as secondary vaginal cancers.
The most common type of vaginal cancer is squamous cell carcinoma, which starts in the thin, flat cells lining the vagina. Another type of vaginal cancer is adenocarcinoma, cancer that begins in glandular cells in the lining of the vagina.
Vaginal cancer is rare.
It is not known what causes vaginal cancer. People who have had human papilloma virus are at slightly higher risk.
A particular kind of vaginal cancer is more common among the daughters of women who took DES in their pregnancy. DES was a drug used some years ago to treat miscarriage, before this side effect was known.
There can be blood in vaginal discharge after sex, and pain during sex. Other symptoms can include some urinary symptoms, such as pain and frequency and pain in the rectum.
See your doctor if you have any of these symptoms. They may be due to another cause, but it is best to have a doctor check them.
