Tests after a vaginal cancer diagnosis

You may have more tests after your diagnosis to find out:

• How large is the cancer?
• Where exactly is the cancer?
• Has the cancer spread to any other parts of your body?

This is called staging. Staging tests for vaginal cancer include:

• Examination under anaesthetic (EUA): Your doctor looks at your vagina while you are asleep under general anaesthetic. This is done to see if the cancer is found only in your vagina. A sample of vaginal cells (biopsy) can be taken during an EuA.
• MRI scan: A scan that uses magnetic energy to build up a picture of the tissues inside your body. 
• CT scan: A type of X-ray that gives a detailed picture of the tissues inside your body.
• PET - CT scan: A radioactive injection that will show up any cancer spread to other parts of your body on a CT scan picture. 
• Chest X-ray: An X-ray to check for any problems in the chest bones that may be related to the vaginal cancer or caused from something else. It can also help the medical team see if there are any problems in the lungs.

Read more about cancer tests.