Symptoms of Vaginal and Vulvar Cancers

Early on, most vaginal cancers do not cause signs and symptoms. But if there are symptoms, they may include—

• Bleeding that is unusual for you because of when it happens or how heavy it is.
• Pain in your pelvis, the area below your stomach and in between your hip bones, especially when you pass urine or have sex.

Many women who have vulvar cancer have signs and symptoms. They may include—

• Itching of the vulva (mostly on the labia) that does not go away.
• Changes in the color of the skin of the vulva, so that it looks redder or whiter than is normal for you.
• Skin changes in the vulva, including what looks like a rash or warts.
• A sore on the vulva that does not go away.

It is important for you to pay attention to your body and know what is normal for you. If you have any of these symptoms for more than two weeks, talk to your doctor, nurse, or other health care professional right away. Symptoms may be caused by something other than cancer, but the only way to know is to see your health care professional.