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Vaginal and Vulvar Cancer Basics

Key points

  • Vaginal cancer is a disease in which cells in the vagina grow out of control.
  • Vulvar cancer is a disease in which cells in the vulva grow out of control.
  • Vaginal and vulvar cancers are very rare.
a mother and her daughter

What it is

Vaginal cancer is a disease in which cells in the vagina grow out of control. 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.

Vulvar cancer is a disease in which cells in the vulva grow out of control. 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.

Vaginal and vulvar cancers are very rare. While all women are at risk for these cancers, very few will get them. Together, they account for about 7% of all gynecologic cancers diagnosed in the United States.

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Medical illustration of a woman's reproductive system
This diagram shows different parts of the female reproductive system.
SOURCE:

© 2021 Terese Winslow LLC. US government has certain rights. Used with permission. Contact artist at www.teresewinslow.com for licensing.

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Content Source:
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; Division of Cancer Prevention and Control