Early vaginal cancer often has no obvious symptoms. The cancer is sometimes found by a routine cervical screening test.
If symptoms do occur, they most often include:
- bloody vaginal discharge (not related to your menstrual period)
- pain during sexual intercourse
- bleeding after sexual intercourse
- a lump in the vagina.
Rarer symptoms include pain in the pelvic area or rectum; and bladder problems, such as blood in the urine (wee) or passing urine often or during the night.
Not everyone with these symptoms has vaginal cancer. If you have any ongoing symptoms, make an appointment to see your general practitioner (GP). Don’t let embarrassment stop you getting checked.
→ READ MORE: Vaginal cancer diagnosis
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Prof Alison Brand, Director, Gynaecological Oncology, Westmead Hospital, NSW; Gemma Busuttil, Radiation Therapist, Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre, Westmead Hospital, NSW; Kim Hobbs, Clinical Specialist Social Worker, Gynaecological Cancer, Westmead Hospital, NSW; Dr Ming-Yin Lin, Radiation Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Dr Lisa Mackenzie, Clinical Psychologist Registrar, HNE Centre for Gynaecological Cancer, Hunter New England Local Health District, NSW; Anne Mellon, CNC – Gynaecological Oncology, HNE Centre for Gynaecological Cancer, Hunter New England Local Health District, NSW; A/Prof Tarek Meniawy, Medical Oncologist, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and The University of Western Australia, WA; Dr Archana Rao, Gynaecological Oncologist, Senior Staff Specialist, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, QLD; Tara Redemski, Senior Physiotherapist – Cancer and Blood Disorders, Gold Coast University Hospital, QLD; Angela Steenholdt, Consumer; Maria Veale, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council QLD.
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