How Rare is Vaginal Cancer? Cancer of the Vagina: 2025 Update

When it comes to women’s health, we often acknowledge breast or cervical cancer. But primary vaginal cancer is considered one of the rarest cancers, as it is so uncommon that even awareness is low, and early signs often get missed. This blog explains how rare vaginal cancer is, its symptoms, and recent updates. Also, why choosing the right cancer treatment centre matters, especially if you are looking for the best cancer hospital in Bihar.

Understanding Primary Vaginal Cancer

Vaginal cancer happens when some cells in the vagina grow rapidly into a harmful tumour. Vaginal cancer is rare; it accounts for less than 2% of all gynecologic cancers. Most cancers found in the vagina are secondary cancers that spread from other parts, such as the cervix, uterus, or vulva.

Primary cancer is mostly diagnosed in women over the age of 60. Its rarity makes it difficult to study, which is why treatment guidelines are often adapted from cervical cancer research.

Types of Vaginal Cancer

• Squamous Cell carcinoma - This is the most common type of vaginal cancer that begins at the squamous cell lining of the vagina, and is linked to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
• Adenocarcinoma - Less common that begin at the glandular mucus-producing cells of the vagina and are sometimes associated with exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero. This can also occur in young women.
• Melanoma & Sarcoma - Extremely rare but more aggressive, which develop in melanocyte cells and muscles, other tissues deeper in the vaginal wall, respectively.

Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore

Early detection is difficult, but these signs and symptoms should never be overlooked. The sceptical part is that these symptoms are also identified for other female health problems.

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding (especially after menopause)
• Watery or foul-smelling discharge
• Pain during intercourse
• A lump or mass is felt inside the vagina
• Pelvic pain or difficulty urinating.

As symptoms can be common for other health conditions, still, if warning signs persist, then you should consult with a doctor and request a physical examination.

Diagnosis & Staging

To diagnose vaginal cancer, the doctor suggests these tests. If the patient is very young or elderly, the doctor may do the exam under anaesthesia to avoid pain and get a clearer report.

• Biopsy: A small piece of tissue is taken from the suspected area and checked under a microscope.
• Colposcopy - A special magnifying tool helps doctors detect abnormal spots inside the vagina.
• Imaging Scan - Scan like MRI, CT, PET-CT shows the size of the tumour and whether it has spread.
• MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging is the best tool for detecting tumor size and nearby tissues.

PET-CT - Positron Emission Tomography is best for spotting if cancer has spread to lymph nodes or other organs.

What is Staging?

Staging means figuring out how far the cancer has spread. According to this, treatment will be decided.

The International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system is widely used for primary vaginal cancer-

Stage	What it means	Explanation
Stage I	Cancer is still in the vagina	A small lump inside that hasn’t spread.
Stage II	Cancer has spread to the vaginal wall.	Bigger lump, still inside the vagina.
Stage III	Cancer has spread to the pelvic wall or lower vagina, which may block urine flow	Tumor pressing on nearby organs.
Stage IVA	Cancer has spread into the bladder or rectum	Tumour breaking into nearby organs
Stage IVB	Cancer has spread to distant organs like the lungs or bones	Cancer has spread far in the body

Stages I and II are easier to treat, with better survival chances. Stages III and IV need stronger treatments like radiation and chemotherapy. Staging helps oncologists decide which treatment therapy is suitable for the patient.

Current Treatment Approaches (2025 Update)

Vaginal cancer is so rare but dangerous when it strikes, which is why it is best managed at a specialised cancer treatment centre. As the treatment of vaginal cancer depends on tumor size, location, and the patient’s age - the current approaches used today-

Radiation Therapy - This is still the primary treatment for most stages. Modern techniques like IMRT (Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy) and brachytherapy allow oncologists to deliver treatment more precisely.

It is used alone in the early stages and combined with chemotherapy in advanced cases.

Surgery - Surgery is often considered for small and localised tumors such as stage I. It may include the removal of the vagina (partial or total), called vaginectomy.

Now, reconstruction techniques are improving as it helps women maintain quality of life.

Chemotherapy - In this treatment method, drugs like cisplatin are commonly used. This is often given with radiation for aggressive or advanced cancers.

Latest updates in Treatment (2025)

Targeted Therapy - In this treatment, research is continuing with drugs that attack specific cancer cell pathways.

Immunotherapy - A treatment that is used to boost the body’s immune system, is being tested for recurrent or resistant vaginal cancers.

Prevention and Awareness for Vaginal Cancer

• HPV vaccination can reduce the risk of vaginal cancer.
• Make a routine of regular gynecologic check-ups to help detect abnormalities early.
• Quit Smoking as tobacco increases risk.
• Share your knowledge about vaginal cancer, since women aren’t aware of it.

Vaginal cancer is extremely rare, which means very few women experience it. Unfortunately, those who do often aren’t aware of it beforehand.

The Best Cancer Hospital Can Make a Difference

Vaginal cancer is rare; most of the treatment follows the cervical cancer guidelines, so specialised cancer treatment is essential.

As they provide -

• Experienced gynecologic oncologists
• Access to advanced radiation machines.
• Clinical trials for new therapies.
• Supportive care (pain management, counselling, and rehabilitation)

For women in Bihar, choosing the best cancer care hospital in Bihar ensures access to modern facilities and expert teams.

Narayana Cancer Centre is considered one of the best cancer care hospitals in Bihar, equipped with modern facilities, specialist oncologists with maximum experience.

Conclusion

Primary vaginal cancer is rare because it makes up less than 2% of gynecologic cancers. Most vaginal cancers are secondary tumors that come from other sites.

Early detection and approach to specialized cancer centers is the key for better outcomes. With time most advanced treatment has developed and the research on vaginal cancer and their treatment are still on.

But awareness and to analyse symptoms is the key toward a better life.