![Diagram of the pelvic area with labels showing the vagina, cervix, womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries. The vagina is below the womb and cervix.](https://assets.nhs.uk/nhsuk-cms/images/VID-1403-Vaginal-Cancer-Illustration-v1_BE5LLd.width-320.jpg)
- 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: 07 November 2023
Next review due: 07 November 2026