When vaginal cancer is small and only in the cells lining the vagina, it might not cause symptoms. Invasive vaginal cancer tends to be bigger and has spread into nearby tissues, like deeper into the wall of the vagina. Most women with invasive vaginal cancer have one or more symptoms, such as:
Advanced vaginal cancer has spread beyond the vagina to nearby structures and lymph nodes. Symptoms of advanced vaginal cancer may be:
Having these symptoms does not always mean that you have cancer. In fact, these symptoms are more likely to be caused by something besides cancer, like an infection. The only way to know what’s causing these problems is to see a health care professional.
If you have any of these symptoms, discuss them with a doctor right away. Remember, the sooner the problem is correctly diagnosed, the sooner you can start treatment, and the better the treatment might work.
Developed by the American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team with medical review and contribution by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
National Cancer Institute. Vaginal Cancer Treatment (PDQ?)–Health Professional Version. February 16, 2024. Accessed at www.cancer.gov/types/vaginal/hp/vaginal-treatment-pdq on August 12, 2024.
Society of Gynecologic Oncology. Vaginal Cancer Symptoms. Accessed at www.sgo.org/patients-caregivers-survivors/caregivers/vaginal-cancer-symptoms/ on August 12, 2024.
Last Revised: September 23, 2024
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