Treatments for vaginal cancer

If you have vaginal cancer, your healthcare team will create a treatment plan just for you. It will be based on your health and specific information about the cancer. When deciding which treatments to offer for vaginal cancer, your healthcare team will consider:

  • stage of the tumour
  • location of the tumour
  • type of tumour
  • size of the tumour
  • your overall health
  • previous radiation therapy to the pelvis
  • whether you want to become pregnant in the future

Expert review and references

  • American Cancer Society. Vaginal Cancer. 2014: http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/003146-pdf.pdf.
  • Klopp AH, Eifel PJ, Berek JS, Konstantinopoulos PA . Cancer of the cervix, vagina and vulva. DeVita VT Jr, Lawrence TS, Rosenberg SA. Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. 10th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2015: 72:1013-1047.
  • Levine DA, Dizon DS, Yashar CM, Barakat RR, Berchuch A, Markman M, Randall ME. Handbook for Principles and Practice of Gynecologic Oncology. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer; 2015.

Treatments for vaginal carcinoma

The following are treatment options for stage I vaginal carcinoma. The types of treatments given are based on the unique needs of the person with cancer. Treatment is the same for stage I squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.

Treatments for melanoma of the vagina

The following are treatment options for melanoma of the vagina. The types of treatments given are based on the unique needs of the person with cancer.

Treatments for sarcoma of the vagina

The following are treatment options for sarcoma of the vagina. The types of treatments given are based on the unique needs of the person with cancer.

Surgery for vaginal cancer

Surgery is sometimes used to treat vaginal cancer. The type of surgery depends mainly on the size of the tumour, stage of the cancer, where the tumour is and whether there has been radiation to the pelvis.

Radiation therapy for vaginal cancer

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays or particles to destroy cancer cells. It is usually used to treat vaginal cancer.

Chemotherapy for vaginal cancer

Chemotherapy is sometimes used to treat vaginal cancer.

Follow-up after treatment for vaginal cancer

Vaginal cancer behaves differently in each woman, and a standard follow-up schedule would not work for everyone. Women with vaginal cancer should talk to their doctor about a follow-up plan that suits their individual situation.