Vaginal Cancer Treatment in Kolkata
Primary vaginal cancer is rare, closely related to cervical cancer, and often first appears as abnormal bleeding. Dr. Dipanwita Banerjee offers careful diagnosis and coordinates surgery and radiation treatment for women with this condition at CNCI, Kolkata.
Whatever stage you are at — abnormal bleeding you haven't had checked, a history of cervical cancer that puts you at higher risk, a confirmed diagnosis, or follow-up after treatment — find your situation below to see how Dr. Banerjee approaches it.
Understanding vaginal cancer
Primary vaginal cancer — cancer that starts in the vagina itself, rather than spreading there from the cervix or elsewhere — is one of the rarer gynaecological cancers. Like cervical cancer, it is most often driven by persistent HPV infection, and women with a prior history of cervical cancer or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia carry a higher risk.
Dr. Banerjee's practice covers the full pathway for vaginal cancer: careful diagnosis, ongoing surveillance for women at elevated risk, staging and surgical treatment for confirmed disease, and close coordination with radiation and medical oncology, given the vagina's proximity to the bladder and rectum.
Vaginal cancer care, stage by stage
Because primary vaginal cancer is rare and there is no dedicated screening test for it, women usually arrive at this page from one of a few very different starting points. Dr. Banerjee's approach is shaped around wherever that starting point is.
Symptom Evaluation & Diagnosis
Vaginal cancer most often first appears as abnormal bleeding rather than being caught on routine screening, which is why any unexpected bleeding — especially after menopause — deserves a prompt, direct look.
Clinical Examination
A focused pelvic examination to assess abnormal bleeding, watery discharge, a palpable mass, or pelvic pain.
Targeted Biopsy
Biopsy of any suspicious area within the vagina to confirm the diagnosis, since imaging and examination alone cannot distinguish cancer from benign causes.
Ruling Out Other Sources
Careful assessment to confirm whether a tumour is truly primary vaginal cancer, or spread from the cervix or another site, since this changes the treatment approach.
Surveillance for Women at Higher Risk
A past diagnosis of cervical cancer or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) is not a vaginal cancer diagnosis — but it does raise long-term risk, which is why continued follow-up matters well beyond the original treatment.
Long-Term Follow-Up After Cervical Cancer
Structured, ongoing surveillance for women previously treated for cervical cancer or CIN, given their elevated risk of vaginal cancer.
HPV-Related Risk Assessment
Evaluation of persistent HPV infection as a shared risk factor between cervical and vaginal cancer, alongside routine gynaecological review.
Incidental Findings on Routine Exam
Assessment of any vaginal abnormality noticed incidentally during a Pap smear or pelvic examination, even without symptoms.
Staging & Coordinated Treatment
Because the vagina sits close to the bladder and rectum, treatment planning for confirmed vaginal cancer draws heavily on coordination between surgery, radiation and medical oncology.
Surgery for Early-Stage Disease
For early-stage, localised disease, surgical treatment including partial or radical vaginectomy, sometimes alongside radical hysterectomy where appropriate.
Radiation & Chemotherapy Coordination
For many vaginal cancers, particularly more advanced disease, radiation therapy — often combined with chemotherapy — is the primary treatment, coordinated closely with radiation oncology colleagues.
Lymph Node Assessment
Staging includes assessment of pelvic and, where relevant, groin lymph nodes to guide the overall treatment plan.
Reconstruction, Follow-Up & Life After Treatment
Where treatment affects vaginal anatomy, reconstructive planning and structured follow-up continue well beyond the end of active treatment.
Reconstructive Surgery
Where surgical treatment affects vaginal anatomy, reconstructive techniques are used to preserve function wherever possible.
Robotic & Minimally Invasive Options
Fellowship-trained at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Centre, New York, in minimally invasive robotic techniques used where appropriate to reduce surgical trauma and recovery time.
Structured Surveillance
A defined follow-up schedule after treatment to check for recurrence early, alongside continued monitoring for women with a cervical cancer history.
Risk factors & HPV
Persistent HPV infection is the leading risk factor for vaginal cancer, mirroring cervical cancer. A prior history of cervical cancer or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) also increases risk, which is why ongoing follow-up after cervical cancer treatment matters.
Other contributing factors include increasing age and, historically, in-utero exposure to certain medications no longer in use. Vaccination against HPV and regular cervical screening indirectly reduce vaginal cancer risk as well.
Been told you need treatment for vaginal cancer, and want it explained in plain words rather than clinical terms? The Patient Guide covers what to expect before, during and after treatment, and in the years afterward.
Vaginal Cancer, answered directly
What are the symptoms of vaginal cancer?
What causes vaginal cancer?
Is vaginal cancer treated with surgery or radiation?
Is vaginal cancer linked to cervical cancer?
I had cervical cancer years ago — should I still be monitored for vaginal cancer?
Who treats vaginal cancer in Kolkata?
What patients say
Best Doctor I have ever seen. She is the angel for me… Saved my mother life and my trust… I am thankful to her as well CNCI Hospital where my mother treated very well.
I recently visited the Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI), Newtown campus, for treatment under Dr. Dipanwita Banerjee (Specialist Gynaecological Oncologist). I cannot praise Dr. Banerjee and her entire team enough. The medical care, surgical expertise, and level of compassion I experienced at this state-of-the-art facility were truly outstanding.
Related Reading
Your care journey, step by step
Discuss your vaginal cancer concern
"Committed to bringing the highest standard of gynaecological cancer care — with science, skill, and deep compassion — to every patient who trusts me with their care."