Childhood cervical cancer and vaginal cancer symptoms

The most common symptom of cervical cancer and vaginal cancer in children is bleeding from the vagina. Other conditions may also cause vaginal bleeding. If your child has vaginal bleeding, it is important that you tell their doctor. The doctor will ask you when it started and how often it occurs as a first step in making a diagnosis.

Tests to diagnose childhood cervical cancer and vaginal cancer

If your child has symptoms that suggest vaginal or cervical cancer, their doctor will need to find out if they are due to cancer or another problem. They may ask about your child’s personal and family medical history and do a physical exam.

Depending on your child’s symptoms and medical history and the results of their physical exam, the doctor may recommend more tests to find out if your child has vaginal or cervical cancer, and if so, its extent (stage). The results of tests and procedures done to diagnose vaginal and cervical cancers are used to help make decisions about treatment.

The following tests and procedures may be used to diagnose and stage childhood cervical or vaginal cancers:

CT scan (CAT scan)

A CT scan uses a computer linked to an x-ray machine to make a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body, such as the pelvis. The pictures are taken from different angles and are used to create 3-D views of tissues and organs. This procedure is also called computed tomography, computerized tomography, or computerized axial tomography. Learn more about Computed Tomography (CT) Scans and Cancer.

Computed tomography (CT) scan. The child lies on a table that slides through the CT scanner, which takes a series of detailed x-ray pictures of areas inside the body.

Getting a second opinion

You may want to get a second opinion to confirm your child’s cervical or vaginal cancer diagnosis and treatment plan. If you seek a second opinion, you will need to get medical test results and reports from the first doctor to share with the second doctor. The second doctor will review the pathology report, slides, and scans. They may agree with the first doctor, suggest changes to the treatment plan, or provide more information about your child’s cancer.

To learn more about choosing a doctor and getting a second opinion, see Finding Cancer Care. You can contact NCI’s Cancer Information Service via chat, email, or phone (both in English and Spanish) for help finding a doctor or hospital that can provide a second opinion. For questions you might want to ask at your child's appointments, see Questions to Ask Your Doctor about Cancer.

Cervical cancer and vaginal cancer stages

Cancer stage describes the extent of cancer in the body, such as the size of the tumor, whether it has spread, and how far it has spread from where it first formed. It is important to know the stage of the cervical or vaginal cancer to plan the best treatment.

There are several staging systems for cancer that describe the extent of the cancer. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system is used for cervical and vaginal cancers. You may see your child’s cancer described by this staging system in the pathology report. Based on the FIGO results, a stage is assigned to the cancer, ranging from stage I, stage II, stage III, or stage IV (may also be written as stage 1, stage 2, stage 3, or stage 4). When talking with you, your child’s doctor may describe it as one of these stages.

Learn about tests and procedures used to diagnose and stage cervical and vaginal cancer in children.

Learn about Cervical Cancer Stages and Vaginal Cancer Stages.

Recurrent cervical cancer or vaginal cancer

Recurrent cancer is cancer that has come back after it has been treated. Cervical or vaginal cancer may come back in the cervix or vagina or as metastatic tumors in other parts of the body. Tests will be done to help determine where the cancer has returned in the body, if it has spread, and how far. The type of treatment that your child will have for recurrent cancer will depend on how far it has spread.

Learn more about Recurrent Cancer: When Cancer Comes Back.

Types of treatment for childhood cervical and vaginal cancer

There are different types of treatment for children and adolescents with cervical cancer or vaginal cancer. You and your child’s cancer care team will work together to decide treatment. Many factors will be considered, such as your child’s overall health and whether the cancer is newly diagnosed or has come back.

A pediatric oncologist, a doctor who specializes in treating children with cancer, will oversee treatment for childhood cervical and vaginal cancers. The pediatric oncologist works with other health care providers who are experts in treating children with cancer and who specialize in certain areas of medicine. Other specialists may include:

• pediatrician
• pediatric surgeon
• gynecologist
• pediatric nurse specialist
• rehabilitation specialist
• social worker
• psychologist
• fertility specialist

Your child’s treatment plan will include information about the cancer, the goals of treatment, treatment options, and the possible side effects. It will be helpful to talk with your child’s cancer care team before treatment begins about what to expect. For help every step of the way, see our downloadable booklet, Children with Cancer: A Guide for Parents.

A cervical cancer diagnosis can raise concerns about whether treatment will affect your child’s fertility. Talk with your child’s cancer care team before treatment begins about what to expect. For more information and support, see Fertility Issues in Girls and Women with Cancer.

Types of treatment your child might have include:

Side effects and late effects of treatment

Cancer treatment can cause side effects. Which side effects your child might have depends on the type of treatment they receive, the dose, and how their body reacts. Talk with your child's treatment team about which side effects to look for and ways to manage them.

For information about side effects that begin during treatment for cancer, see our Side Effects of Cancer Treatment page.

Problems from cancer treatment that begin 6 months or later after treatment and continue for months or years are called late effects. Physical problems, such as problems with fertility, may be a late effect of treatment.

Some late effects may be treated or controlled. It is important to talk with your child's doctors about the possible late effects caused by some treatments. Learn more about Late Effects of Treatment for Childhood Cancer.

Follow-up care

Some of the tests that were done to diagnose the cancer may be repeated to see how well the treatment is working. Decisions about whether to continue, change, or stop treatment may be based on the results of these tests.

Some of the tests will continue to be done from time to time after treatment has ended. The results of these tests can show if your child's condition has changed or if the cancer has recurred (come back). These tests are sometimes called follow-up tests or check-ups.

Coping with your child's cancer

When a child has cancer, every member of the family needs support. Taking care of yourself during this difficult time is also important. Reach out to your child’s treatment team and to people in your family and community for support. To learn more, see Support for Families: Childhood Cancer and the booklet Children with Cancer: A Guide for Parents.