This information is provided by SSCHRC to help you understand vulvar cancer and its management. It is written in a patient-friendly and medically accurate style.
The vulva is the external part of a woman's genitals, situated at the opening of the vagina (birth canal). Vulvar cancer is categorised based on the specific type of cell in which it originates.
The main parts of the vulva include:
Cancer can develop in any of these areas, and tumours may extend beyond a single site.
This is the most common type, originating from the flat cells lining the vulva. A subtype is verrucous vulvar cancer, which may appear as a wart-like growth.
This typically starts in the Bartholin glands or sweat glands of the vulva, accounting for approximately 8% of all vulvar cancers. Certain conditions, such as Paget's disease of the vulva, can increase the risk of developing adenocarcinoma.
A form of skin cancer that begins in the cells responsible for producing pigment.
These are rare forms of vulvar cancer that start in the soft tissue and can be found in both children and adults.
Vulvar cancer is considered rare. It typically progresses slowly and may start as precancerous changes that can be treated before they become malignant. The median age at diagnosis is 69, and the disease's five-year survival rate is generally about 71%.
A risk factor is anything that increases your likelihood of developing vulvar cancer. Key risk factors include:
Important Note: It is important to remember that not all women with risk factors will develop vulvar cancer. If you have any concerns regarding your risk, you should discuss them with your healthcare provider.
The signs and symptoms of vulvar cancer can vary among women. They may include:
Important Note: These symptoms can also be indicative of other health issues. It is crucial to consult a doctor to discuss any persistent symptoms.
Early and accurate diagnosis is essential for vulvar cancer. Determining the extent and location of any potential cancer spread helps doctors to select the most appropriate treatment plan.
At SSCHRC, our specialised experts utilise modern and accurate equipment for diagnosis. Our pathologists, diagnostic radiologists, and specially trained technicians meticulously determine the exact extent of the disease, which contributes to a higher likelihood of successful treatment.
A biopsy is the definitive method for diagnosing vulvar cancer. This procedure involves removing a small tissue sample, which is then examined under a microscope for cancerous cells. A doctor may use a colposcope (a magnifying instrument) to enhance the view of the area before removing the tissue via:
Imaging tests are used to visualise cancer inside the body, helping to locate tumours and track the body's response to treatment. For vulvar cancer, these may include:
A cancer's stage describes the size of the primary tumour and how far the cancer has spread within the body. This information is vital for doctors to understand the disease and formulate a comprehensive treatment plan.
The stages of vulvar cancer are set by the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) and range from Stage I to Stage IV. A higher stage number indicates a more advanced, and generally more challenging, cancer to treat.
Cancer is formed and is found only in the vulva.
The tumour is any size and has spread to the lower one-third of the urethra, vagina, or anus. Cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes.
The tumour is any size and has spread to the upper two-thirds of the urethra or vagina, the inner lining of the bladder or rectum, or to any number of lymph nodes.
The tumour is any size and is attached to the bone, or cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, or to lymph nodes that are not movable or have become ulcerated.
At SSCHRC, a team of nationally recognised experts focuses on providing the most advanced treatments for vulvar cancer, always prioritising the patient's quality of life. Our therapies are designed to target cancer using advanced methods while striving to minimise side effects.
Our physicians are pioneers in innovative approaches, including sentinel node biopsy procedures. Current standard care for vulvar cancer has progressed to a combination of surgery with other therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation. SSCHRC treats a significant number of women each year for this complex cancer, providing a high level of experience and expertise.
If you are diagnosed with vulvar cancer, your doctor will discuss the optimal treatment options, which are determined by several factors:
Vulvar cancer treatment commonly involves surgery. The success of the surgery is greatly increased when performed by a specialist with extensive experience in the procedure. SSCHRC surgeons are among the most skilled and recognised globally, performing a large volume of vulvar cancer surgeries annually using the least invasive and most advanced techniques.
The main types of surgery for vulvar cancer include:
This treatment may be used for precancerous vulvar cell changes, involving the application of medicine directly to the growth.
Chemotherapy drugs are used to kill cancer cells, control their growth, or alleviate disease-related symptoms. Treatment may involve a single drug or a combination of two or more drugs, tailored to the type and growth rate of the cancer.
Radiation therapy uses powerful, focused beams of energy to destroy cancer cells. Various techniques are available, allowing doctors to precisely target the tumour while minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Radiation treatment is made more precise through advanced delivery techniques and the use of MRI guidance, which helps to minimise impact on healthy tissue.
These are a form of immunotherapy that prevent the immune system from prematurely "switching off" before the cancer is completely eliminated. Patients may receive a single or a combination of immunotherapy drugs.
Targeted therapy drugs are specifically designed to stop or slow the growth or spread of cancer at a cellular level. Cancer cells depend on specific molecules (often proteins) to survive, multiply, and spread. These therapies interfere with, or target, these molecules or the cancer-causing genes that produce them.