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Treatment of Stage I Vaginal Cancer
Source: Vaginal Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: April 5, 2023 · Captured 2026-09-09.
Selected source text with whitespace normalised. This Triangle page is not an NCI PDQ summary. Independent clinical review is pending.
For information about the treatments listed below, see the Treatment Option Overview section.
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Treatment of stage I squamous cell vaginal cancer lesions that are less than 0.5 centimeters thick may include the following:
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External radiation therapy, especially for large tumors or the lymph nodes near tumors in the lower part of the vagina.
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Internal radiation therapy.
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Surgery (wide local excision or vaginectomy with vaginal reconstruction). Radiation therapy may be given after the surgery.
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Treatment of stage I squamous cell vaginal cancer lesions that are more than 0.5 centimeters thick may include the following:
Surgery:
Surgery:
For lesions in the upper third of the vagina, vaginectomy and lymph node dissection, with or without vaginal reconstruction.
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Surgery:
For lesions in the lower third of the vagina, lymph node dissection.
Radiation therapy may be given after the surgery, which may include:
Radiation therapy may be given after the surgery, which may include:
External radiation therapy with or without internal radiation therapy.
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Radiation therapy may be given after the surgery, which may include:
Internal radiation therapy.
Radiation therapy may be given after the surgery, which may include:
For lesions in the lower third of the vagina, radiation therapy may be given to lymph nodes near tumors.
Treatment of stage I vaginal adenocarcinoma may include the following:
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Surgery (vaginectomy and hysterectomy with lymph node dissection). This may be followed by vaginal reconstruction and/or radiation therapy.
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Internal radiation therapy. External radiation therapy may also be given to the lymph nodes near tumors in the lower part of the vagina.
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A combination of therapies that may include wide local excision with or without lymph node dissection and internal radiation therapy.
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Preserved source evidence · Independent clinical review pending · Not medical advice