The stages of cancer of the vagina

• A quick guide to what's on this page
• What staging is
• Different staging systems
• Five stages of vaginal cancer
• If vaginal cancer comes back

The stage of a cancer tells the doctor how far it has spread. It is important because doctors often decide treatment according to stage. The tests and scans that you have had will give your doctor some information about the stage of your cancer. But your doctor may not be able to tell you the exact stage until after you have had surgery.

There are different ways of staging cancers. Most gynaecologists prefer to use the FIGO system, developed by the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics. There are 5 stages - from stage 0 (the earliest stage) to stage 4 (the most advanced stage). Cancer that has come back after being treated is called recurrent cancer.

Sometimes staging can sound a bit confusing. You won't be as familiar with these terms as your doctor is. If you don't understand what stage your cancer is and would like to know more, do not be afraid to ask. It may help you understand why your doctor recommends a particular treatment for you. There is a list of questions for your doctor at the end of this section that may help you. There is more about staging cancers in the about cancer section of CancerHelp UK.

There are 5 staging groups for vaginal cancer. These are

• Stage 0 or VAIN 3 (vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia)
• Stage 1
• Stage 2
• Stage 3
• Stage 4

Vaginal cancer may also come back after it has been treated. This is called recurrent vaginal cancer.

Stage 0 (VAIN 3)

This is not vaginal cancer, but could turn into a cancer. Some doctors call it precancer. Stage 0 is also known as vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (VAIN 3) or carcinoma in situ (CIS). There are abnormal cells in the skin tissue lining the vagina. But they are only in the skin and have not spread away from where they started, or begun to grow into the deeper tissues of the vagina.

VAIN can be classified as VAIN 1, 2 or 3. VAIN 1 means the abnormal cells are in one third of the thickness of the skin tissue lining the vagina. VAIN 3 means the full thickness of the lining of the vagina has abnormal cells. VAIN is a precancerous condition. If it is detected and you have treatment, this can prevent vaginal cancer from developing.

Stage 1

In this stage the cancer has started to grow into the wall of the vagina but has not spread further.

Stage 2

In this stage, the cancer has begun to spread outside the vagina into the surrounding tissues. But it has not reached the walls of your pelvis.

Stage 3

This stage means that the cancer has spread outside your vagina and reached the side walls of your pelvis. It may also affect nearby lymph nodes.

Stage 4

This stage is advanced vaginal cancer. The cancer has spread to other body organs outside the vagina.

If the cancer has spread to your bladder or back passage (rectum), this is called stage 4A. Only about 1 in 10 women (10%) with vaginal cancer have this stage when the cancer is diagnosed.

If the cancer has spread to organs further away - for example, the lungs - this is called stage 4B.

This is called recurrent disease. It means that the cancer has come back (recurred) after previous treatment. If vaginal cancer is going to come back it is most likely to do so within 2 years of first being treated.