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Wanna know all about the Vulvar cancer and symptoms?

What is a Vulvar cancer?Know the symptoms, causes treatment and prevention

Vulvar cancer is a cancer of the vulva in females.  Vulva is an external female reproductive part. Vulva, the external genitalia includes labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, urethral opening, vaginal opening, vestibule, fourchette, perineum, etc. 

When there is a cancerous process in vulvar area, it is called vulvar cancer. Tumor may occur in any part of the vulva. It is a rare form of cancer in females. It is mostly associated with the human papilloma virus,lichen sclerosus,etc.  The most common type of vulvar cancer is called vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN)

What are the signs and symptoms of the vulvar cancer? 

Vulvar cancer may produce signs and symptoms such as: 

  • Pain in the vulvar area
  • Eruption and development of skin lesions or sores
  • Presence of  a skin sore that may last for over a month
  • Presence of solid bumps or masses anywhere on vulva
  • Itching at the site of bumps and sores, not going easily
  • Unusual bleeding, not the normal period bleed
  • Discoloration or significant skin-color changes in vulva, may look whitish and rough to touch
  • Thickening of the vulvar skin 
  • Discomfort and severe burning when peeing 
  • Pain during the intercourse
What are the risk factors associated to the vulvar cancer?  Who can get vulvar cancer? 

Let us know the risk factors that may contribute to the vulvar cancer. 
These are:
  • Females above 60-65 years of age can get vulvar cancer. 
  • Previous papilloma virus infection, HIV infection
  • Previous positive or abnormal PAP smear test
  • History of lichen sclerosus
  • Females who smoke more. 
  • Females with family history of female cancers or cancerous moles.
  • Having mulitple sex partners

What are the causes of vulvar cancers in females? 


Vulvar cancers are caused by the human papilloma virus mostly.  The rest however may be linked to the skin condition called lichen sclerous. 

Vulvar cancers are usually the squamous cell carcinoma. The cancers that develop on the labia minora and clitoris are called melanomas.  Vulvar cancer can be: adenocarcinoma, paget's disease,  basal cell carcinoma, sarcoma, etc. 

When the cells in the vulva grow out of control and start producing a lump or sore in the area, it starts to show the symptoms of vulvar cancer. 

How are vulvar cancers diagnosed? 

The vulvar cancer may be diagnosed by physical examination of the female genitalia, history of present complaints and the culture tests for tissue scrapings from the sore. 

What is the treatment of the vulvar cancer? 

Vulvar cancer treatment is initiated by the oncologist as soon as the diagnosis is confirmed.  Vulvar cancer when detected at early stages can be treated successfully with less complications. 
The treatment options for vulvar cancer are: 
  • Surgery: the mass or tumor in the vulvar region is removed by excision and the surrounding healthy tissues and lymph nodes in the groin may be removed if the cancer has spread further.  Surgery may be a wide local excision or radical excision. Wide local involves removal of the tumor with some extra portion of the healthy tissue that surrounds the cancerous part. Radical excision involves removal of the cancerous plus a large portion of healthy tissues along with the lymph nodes located in the groin to deduct the possibility of the spread of the cancer.
  • Skin grafting is done at the place of the surgery when vulvectomy, means the vulva is removed completely or partially. The skin grafts from another body parts are taken to perform skin grafting following the vulvectomy surgery.  Vulvectomy means complete removal of vulva.  
  • Skinning vulvectomy refers to the removal of affected huge portion of skin of the vulva and replacing the gaps created by using the skin grafts from other body parts.
  • Laser surgery is also done in some cases in which the beam of laser rays is used as knife and it cuts out the cancerous mass without bleeding. 
  • Pelvic exenteration may be done rarely in cases of widespread cancer that has caused malignancies in the intestines and surrounding abdominal structures. This involves the removal of the pelvic organs along with some portion of distal colon, rectum and complete vulva. This is a major surgery and it may take long to heal. The sexual function cannot be restored. 
  • All other surgeries and treatment are aimed at preserving the sexual functions and causing minimal complications or recurrences. 
  • Adjuvant therapy following surgery is usually commenced by chemotherapy or radiation therapy. 
  • In most cases, surgery offers good recovery than the chemotherapy and radiation therapy that may take a longer period to gain control over the cancerous process. 
  • Chemotherapy: It includes the administration of the anti-neoplastic agents and other useful drugs for cancer over a scheduled period of time. 
  • Radiation therapy: The treatment involves introducing radiation on the tumor or cancer cells to destroy them. 
  • Immunotherapy: The treatment aims at preparing a person's immune system to fight the cancer cells. The substances used for triggering the immune responses may be from the person's own body cells or those prepared in the medical labs. The aim of immune therapy is to initiate and restore body's natural response to fight the neoplastic process in the body. 
Are there any side effects of radiation therapy? 

The high-energy rays used in radiation therapy are so powerful that they can sensitize the skin and produce skin sores. The sores may get infected and cause swelling and pain. The care of the skin in the affected area post radiation becomes a priority intervention to reduce the discomfort of the patient.  Other sideeffects can be reduction in the platelets and other blood cell counts, anemia, etc. 

Can vulvar cancer be cured? 

Vulvar cancer when detected and treated at an early stages shows good recovery and restoration of the sexual function. However, it is cancer and a serious thing, so it cannot be confirmed whether it has cured or not. Sometimes it may have spread to other organs but not show the symptoms for quite a long period. Adjuvant therapy following surgery in most cases offers good prognosis and the woman can live a normal life. 

In later stages, any form of cancer needs rigorous treatment and the chances of recovery usually decline with the progression of cancer to advanced stages. 

What is the prevention of vulvar cancer? 

There is no prevention as such for any type of cancer. However we can certainly reduce the risk of cancer by healthy diet, good immunity, healthy habits, good lifestyle, good personal hygiene, safe sex practices, prevention of viral diseases by vaccination, etc. 

Conclusion: 

Vulvar cancer is a cancer of vulva, the external reproductive organ in females. It can be treated by medically and surgically. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be done depending upon the severity of the condition. The treatment is aimed to preserve the normal sexual function in females. 

Please note: This blogpost is for informational and educational purpose only. It is not a substitute to any medical advice or treatment. Seek medical help in any case. 


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Anonymous said…
Nice info. Thanks
June 6, 2023 at 5:05 PM
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