Advanced Radiation Therapy for Cervical, Vulvar, and Vaginal Cancers

At Minneapolis Radiation Oncology, we bring advanced radiation therapy close to home, with 11 locations across the Twin Cities, Brainerd Lakes Area, and Western Wisconsin. Count on the cancer specialists at MRO to be here for you, with care, precision, and compassion.

What are cervical, vulvar, and vaginal cancers?

Cervical cancer starts when the cells lining the cervix begin to grow out of control. The two main types are squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, whose cells appear different under a microscope. Sometimes, both types of cells are involved in cervical cancer.

Vulvar and vaginal cancers are similar to cervical cancers but are more likely to be squamous cell carcinomas. They’re rare. Only 1 or 2% of cancers of the female genital tract are considered vaginal cancer, because of the way cancers are classified: If a vaginal tumor extends to the cervix, it’s considered cervical cancer. If it extends to the vulva, it’s considered vulvar cancer, even if the tumor’s center lies in the vaginal region. Metastatic cervical, vulvar, or vaginal cancer is cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

Many vaginal and vulvar cancers are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) which is passed from one person to another during sex.

Individual survival rates depend on the type and stage of the disease, but overall, 5-year survival rates are over 70%. As with any gynecological cancer, cervical, vaginal, or vulvar cancers can take a heavy psychological toll as well as physical effects.