Vaginal and Vulvar Cancers

Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body grow out of control. Cancer is always named for the part of the body where it starts, even if it spreads to other body parts later. When cancer starts in the vagina, it is called vaginal cancer. The vagina, also called the birth canal, is the hollow, tube-like channel between the bottom of the uterus and the outside of the body.

When cancer starts in the vulva, it is called vulvar cancer. The vulva is the outer part of the female genital organs. It has two folds of skin, called the labia. Vulvar cancer most often occurs on the inner edges of the labia.

When vaginal and vulvar cancers are found early, treatment is most effective. Treatment of vulvar cancer, in particular, often leads to a cure.

Learn more by downloading the Inside Knowledge campaign's vaginal and vulvar cancer fact sheet. (PDF-774KB)

Who Gets Vaginal and Vulvar Cancers?

Vaginal and vulvar cancers are very rare. While all women are at risk for these cancers, very few will get them. In 2005,* vaginal cancer accounted for only 1 to 2 percent of all gynecologic cancers. Vulvar cancer accounted for approximately 5 percent of all gynecologic cancers. In 2005, 1,027 women in the United States were told that they had vaginal cancer and 3,738 women learned they had vulvar cancer.† For more information, read HPV-Associated Vaginal Cancer Statistics and HPV-Associated Vulvar Cancer Statistics.

*Latest year for which statistics are available. †Source: USCS.