Vaginal cancer treatment at GenesisCare

Cancers that start in the vagina (primary vaginal cancer) are very rare, and especially in people aged under 40. Fewer than 300 people in the UK are diagnosed with vaginal cancer each year.

Treatment typically depends on the type of vaginal cancer you have, whether it’s spread, where in the vagina it’s located, and your general health. Diagnosing vaginal cancer early often allows for more treatment options and better outcomes.

As the UK’s leading specialist independent cancer care provider, we offer you first-class treatments that will be managed by a team of specialists in vaginal cancer. You can be reassured that they’ll work closely with you to identify the best personalised care plan for your diagnosis.

The main treatments for vaginal cancer are radiotherapy and surgery. But you might be recommended a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which may be referred to as chemoradiotherapy or chemoradiation.

To help ensure the best outcomes are achieved for you, we combine your treatment with personalised integrative cancer care which is proven to improve outcomes. This includes a programme of exercise medicine and access to a wellbeing expert and holistic therapies such as counselling, acupuncture, massage and reflexology through our unique partnership with the Penny Brohn UK charity.

It is our commitment to offer world-class cancer care to all of our patients, to achieve the best outcomes possible.

We understand that this may be a very worrying time for you. But please remember that symptoms you may be experiencing can often be caused by other conditions, not only vaginal cancer. However, if you're concerned about vaginal cancer symptoms, you should speak with your GP.

Radiotherapy uses targeted, high-energy radiation beams to destroy cancer cells. It is the main treatment for many people with vaginal cancer.

If you have stage 1, 2 or 3 vaginal cancer, you may have radical radiotherapy that aims to cure your cancer. This might also be possible for some people with stage 4A vaginal cancer.

You may also have radiotherapy to help control the symptoms of advanced vaginal cancer or if your cancer has returned. And sometimes people only have radiotherapy when surgery is not possible.

The type of radiotherapy your specialist recommends for you might be external radiotherapy, internal radiotherapy, or both.

At GenesisCare, we’re the leading private provider of radiotherapy in the UK and offer world-class expertise, state-of-the-art facilities and advanced radiotherapy techniques. Our latest-generation radiotherapy machines deliver highly targeted radiation beams with sub-millimetre accuracy, which makes them extremely effective and minimises the radiation dose to healthy tissues.

Our expert multidisciplinary teams (MDTs), consisting of oncologists, radiotherapists, and medical physicists, will oversee your radiotherapy treatment. By working closely together, they will put together a personalised treatment plan for you that ensures you always get the best possible care.

If your consultant recommends surgery for your vaginal cancer, the type of operation you have will depend on the size of your cancer, where it is in your vagina and how far it has spread.

Our cancer specialists have close relationships with top surgeons from local and nationally renowned hospitals. They’ll work with them and other gynaecological experts to decide the best course of treatment for you. This can be arranged conveniently at one of our partner hospitals. You can then continue your other treatments at GenesisCare.

At GenesisCare, we offer many of the newest drug therapies that can be used to treat and manage vaginal cancer. Depending on how these treatments are provided, you may need to attend one of our private chemotherapy suites, which are staffed by our specialist nurses.

Our compassionate nursing teams are available 24/7 on a dedicated on-call telephone service, and they can answer any queries during your treatment. They can also provide advice about side effects and symptoms, and help to arrange appropriate medical care when needed.

There are different types of drug treatments, also called systemic anti-cancer therapies. Our expert teams continually review and assess new treatments to make these available to our patients as early as possible.
All GenesisCare centres have received the Macmillan Quality Environment Mark, which is awarded to cancer environments that go above and beyond to create welcoming and friendly spaces for people living with cancer.

At GenesisCare, we do more than just treat your cancer. As part of our unique and integrative approach to cancer care, you can expect the best possible care and a personalised treatment plan that includes access to life-changing therapies which are proven to improve cancer-related outcomes. These therapies will be tailored to you to help you manage and cope with your cancer as well as the specific side effects of treatment.

GenesisCare is a leading private provider of cancer care, offering the latest innovations and techniques that are proven to be safe and effective. If you choose us for small bowel cancer treatment you will be under the care of a team of experts, including consultant oncologists, surgeons and dietitians. They will design a personalised care plan based around your diagnosis and preferences, with treatment starting within days if needed. Every patient is also supported through their journey with life-changing therapies, such as exercise medicine and psychological support.