Vulvar cancer and vaginal cancer, as with cervical cancer, tend to spread locally before widespread metastases occur.
They can cause many of the same problems associated with pelvic and systemic disease progression that the other gynecologic cancers do. Moreover, because of their relatively more superficial sites of origin, complications may arise as a result of disease involvement of the perineal region and inguino-femoral nodal chains.

Patients may have any of the following signs and symptoms:
- groin node involvement
- lower extremity edema
- odor
- rectal fistulas or anal sphincter involvement
- ulceration of the skin

See reference for more information.

Adapted from Medscape Drugs & Diseases. Palliative care of the patient with advanced gynecologic cancer. Available at http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/270646-overview#a5. Accessed on August 31, 2016. To view the entire article and all other content on the Medscape Drugs & Diseases site, a free, one-time registration is required.