Vaginal cancer
- Vaginal cancer is a very rare cancer that's found anywhere in the vagina. It's most common in women aged 75 and over.
- Anyone with a vagina can get vaginal cancer.
- The vagina is a tube between the vulva and the opening of the womb (cervix).
- Vaginal cancer is nearly always caused by an infection from certain types of the human papillomavirus (HPV).
- It's often found and prevented by attending cervical screening, which aims to find and treat abnormalities before they turn into cancer.
- Vaginal cancer usually grows very slowly and how serious it is depends on how big it is, if it has spread and your general health.
Important: Get your symptoms checked
It's important to get any symptoms of vaginal cancer checked as soon as possible.
Page last reviewed: 7 November 2023
Next review due: 7 November 2026