Vulvar Cancer Symptoms

Vulvar Cancer Symptoms Vulvar Cancer is usually reported as a malignant outgrowth on the outer side of vulva, a genital organ of females. Vulva is anatomically the layer of skin that surrounds the vagina, urethra, labia and clitoris. Frequently vulvar cancer involves lumping and soreness of vulva that may result in itching or discomfort. Older women are at much higher risk of developing vulvar cancer; however this cancer is independent of age factor.

Vulvar Cancer Symptoms
Most of the women who develop vulvar cancer experience no specific symptoms; however they may frequently report continuous itching or irritation in the vulvar region which is often associated with the appearance of thick patch of skin as compared to the surrounding skin.

Given below are some symptoms that women with invasive vulvar cancer may experience:

• A bump that is white or pink in color with wart-like or raw surface


• A rough white area


• Continuous itching


• Burning sensation and pain while urination


• Discharge and bleeding not related to periods


• Ulcer or open sore that stays longer than a month

Women with advanced stages of vulvar cancer may observe an outgrowth similar to a genital wart.

Note: Seek immediate medical help if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• Pain


• Itching


• Burning


• Abnormal bleeding

Causes and Risk Factors of Vulvar Cancer
The exact cause of vulvar cancer remains unknown, however, generally the primary pathophysiological event responsible for Tumor formation is mutation in DNA that leads to abnormally rapid division of cells and expanded life span of tumorous tissue. In long standing or poorly managed cases, tumor cells may invade the surrounding normal tissue to cause disturbing symptoms.

Listed below are the risk factors associated with vulvar cancer:

• Age: Postmenopausal women are at much higher risk compared to women in reproductive age group, yet cases brought to clinical practice in young females increasing.


• Sexually transmitted infections


• Having multiple sex partners may also put you at risk


• Not having children may yet be another contributing risk factor


• Severe itching in the vulva


• Having Warts in the genital area


• A positive personal or family history of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia


• Smoking


• Lichen sclerosis

Diagnosis of Vulvar Cancer
Listed below are some diagnostic methods that are commonly employed for vulvar cancer:

• Collecting medical history of the patient


• Conducting physical examination


• Use of colposcope to observe the vulva and the lesions present on it


• Use of scalpel to take biopsy of the sore lump present on the vulva


• Punch biopsy


• Removing a few tissues while the patient is given an anesthetic agent

Treatments of Vulvar Cancer
1. Surgery
The most popular and effective treatment for vulvar cancer is surgery. The nature of surgical procedure is dependent upon the position and size of cancer. Small cancers are much easier to remove. Healthcare providers utilize complex surgical approaches to remove large cancers such as vulvectomy, i.e. only some parts of the normal vulvar tissue are removed besides the cancerous part. A radical vulvectomy, however, involves removal of the entire vulva along with clitoris and labia. Skin flaps or skin grafts are mandatory if a lot of skin is removed during the surgery. Frequently, the surgery is performed with the aim of achieving optimum results with very little scarring. Discuss the surgical options with your doctor.

2. Radiation Therapy
It involves exposing the tumor mass to high energy beams (such as X-rays) to destroy the cancer cells. Radiation therapy is usually performed with the help of highly calculated devices/ machines that are designed to emit rays at the precise locations of the body (thereby securing the normal tissue from radiation-mediated harm). This therapy is also employed to shrink down the vulvar cancers that are large in size so that the surgery becomes effective and easier. A combination of radio therapy and chemotherapy is also used to make the cancer cells more prone to destruction.

3. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy comprises of drugs that are administered via oral or parenteral routes. However in case of women with advanced stages of vulvar cancer, chemotherapy may not turn out to be an effective treatment.

4. Follow-Ups
Once you're done with the treatment of vulvar cancer, your doctor may call you for follow-ups time to time to look out for any recurrence of cancer. Mostly the doctors prefer a follow-up of 2-4 times per year.

Living With Vulvar Cancer
1. Know Your Cancer
You must know everything about your cancer. Get a firm grasp on the symptoms, causes and treatment protocol required for your condition. Be well acknowledged so it wouldn’t be tough to ask around questions from your healthcare provider.

2. Find Someone to Talk With
Needless to say that a vulvar cancer patient requires a lot of guidance, love and support from people around.Do not hesitate to share your thoughts and feelings with people who you trust, it can be your family, spiritual advisors, therapist, friends or other cancer survivors. There are a number of non-government and government organizations that serve as platforms to connect cancer patients, survivors and volunteers such as the American Cancer Society's Cancer Survivors Network, the Women Cancer Network and American Cancer Society besides online forums.

3. Don’t Be Scared Of Physical Intimacy
Changes or illness involving a genital area may affect your confidence and desire to engage in sexual contact, but do not let your feelings affect your natural needs. If you need time or support, speak to your partner or a therapist to learn more about the coping. You should also remember that sexuality can be expressed in a number of mediums such as touching, caressing, hugging, etc.

Here is a video that you may find very helpful to learn about the vulvar cancer:

Vulvar Cancer Symptoms

Vulvar Cancer Symptoms

Vulvar Cancer is usually reported as a malignant outgrowth on the outer side of vulva, a genital organ of females. Vulva is anatomically the layer of skin that surrounds the vagina, urethra, labia and clitoris. Frequently vulvar cancer involves lumping and soreness of vulva that may result in itching or discomfort. Older women are at much higher risk of developing vulvar cancer; however this cancer is independent of age factor.

Vulvar Cancer Symptoms
Most of the women who develop vulvar cancer experience no specific symptoms; however they may frequently report continuous itching or irritation in the vulvar region which is often associated with the appearance of thick patch of skin as compared to the surrounding skin.

Given below are some symptoms that women with invasive vulvar cancer may experience:

• A bump that is white or pink in color with wart-like or raw surface


• A rough white area


• Continuous itching


• Burning sensation and pain while urination


• Discharge and bleeding not related to periods


• Ulcer or open sore that stays longer than a month

Women with advanced stages of vulvar cancer may observe an outgrowth similar to a genital wart.

Note: Seek immediate medical help if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• Pain


• Itching


• Burning


• Abnormal bleeding

Causes and Risk Factors of Vulvar Cancer
The exact cause of vulvar cancer remains unknown, however, generally the primary pathophysiological event responsible for Tumor formation is mutation in DNA that leads to abnormally rapid division of cells and expanded life span of tumorous tissue. In long standing or poorly managed cases, tumor cells may invade the surrounding normal tissue to cause disturbing symptoms.

Listed below are the risk factors associated with vulvar cancer:

• Age: Postmenopausal women are at much higher risk compared to women in reproductive age group, yet cases brought to clinical practice in young females increasing.


• Sexually transmitted infections


• Having multiple sex partners may also put you at risk


• Not having children may yet be another contributing risk factor


• Severe itching in the vulva


• Having Warts in the genital area


• A positive personal or family history of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia


• Smoking


• Lichen sclerosis

Diagnosis of Vulvar Cancer
Listed below are some diagnostic methods that are commonly employed for vulvar cancer:

• Collecting medical history of the patient


• Conducting physical examination


• Use of colposcope to observe the vulva and the lesions present on it


• Use of scalpel to take biopsy of the sore lump present on the vulva


• Punch biopsy


• Removing a few tissues while the patient is given an anesthetic agent

Treatments of Vulvar Cancer
1. Surgery
The most popular and effective treatment for vulvar cancer is surgery. The nature of surgical procedure is dependent upon the position and size of cancer. Small cancers are much easier to remove. Healthcare providers utilize complex surgical approaches to remove large cancers such as vulvectomy, i.e. only some parts of the normal vulvar tissue are removed besides the cancerous part. A radical vulvectomy, however, involves removal of the entire vulva along with clitoris and labia. Skin flaps or skin grafts are mandatory if a lot of skin is removed during the surgery. Frequently, the surgery is performed with the aim of achieving optimum results with very little scarring. Discuss the surgical options with your doctor.

2. Radiation Therapy
It involves exposing the tumor mass to high energy beams (such as X-rays) to destroy the cancer cells. Radiation therapy is usually performed with the help of highly calculated devices/ machines that are designed to emit rays at the precise locations of the body (thereby securing the normal tissue from radiation-mediated harm). This therapy is also employed to shrink down the vulvar cancers that are large in size so that the surgery becomes effective and easier. A combination of radio therapy and chemotherapy is also used to make the cancer cells more prone to destruction.

3. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy comprises of drugs that are administered via oral or parenteral routes. However in case of women with advanced stages of vulvar cancer, chemotherapy may not turn out to be an effective treatment.

4. Follow-Ups
Once you're done with the treatment of vulvar cancer, your doctor may call you for follow-ups time to time to look out for any recurrence of cancer. Mostly the doctors prefer a follow-up of 2-4 times per year.

Living With Vulvar Cancer
1. Know Your Cancer
You must know everything about your cancer. Get a firm grasp on the symptoms, causes and treatment protocol required for your condition. Be well acknowledged so it wouldn’t be tough to ask around questions from your healthcare provider.

2. Find Someone to Talk With
Needless to say that a vulvar cancer patient requires a lot of guidance, love and support from people around.Do not hesitate to share your thoughts and feelings with people who you trust, it can be your family, spiritual advisors, therapist, friends or other cancer survivors. There are a number of non-government and government organizations that serve as platforms to connect cancer patients, survivors and volunteers such as the American Cancer Society's Cancer Survivors Network, the Women Cancer Network and American Cancer Society besides online forums.

3. Don’t Be Scared Of Physical Intimacy
Changes or illness involving a genital area may affect your confidence and desire to engage in sexual contact, but do not let your feelings affect your natural needs. If you need time or support, speak to your partner or a therapist to learn more about the coping. You should also remember that sexuality can be expressed in a number of mediums such as touching, caressing, hugging, etc.

Here is a video that you may find very helpful to learn about the vulvar cancer:

Vulvar Cancer

Vulvar Cancer






Vulva is the soft skin tissue that surrounds the area of vagina and urethra, including clitoris. In other words vulva is he skin that engulfs the female genitals. Sometimes, there may be sores or bumps on the vulva causing itching which can be due to vulvar cancer. It can occur at any age but common in old aged women. Vulvar cancer can be treated and removed by surgery.

Vulvar Cancer Symptoms :

Some of the common signs of vulvar cancer are persistent itching on the vagina and its surrounding tissue, pain, occasional bleeding (not due to monthly periods), formation of painful lumps or sores in that region. For some women, the skin color would get darkened due to cancerous growth.

Causes of Vulvar Cancer :

Exact reason of vulvar cancer is not known. But it is believed to be caused by defective gene mutation when old cells do not give way for newer ones thus forming tumor like cells. The cancer would begin as flat thin cells affecting the lining of the vulva which can be squamous cells carcinoma. Sometimes cancer can develop in the skin that produces pigment cells which is known as vulvar Melanoma.

Risk Factors :

Vulvar cancer can develop in any age but is more common in old aged women (above 65 years) than others. Women who are sexually active have increased chance to get exposed to HPV virus leading to infection in the genitals. Prolonged infection in the vagina can become cancer. Women with autoimmune disorder are prone to develop human immunodeficiency virus called HIV which can increase the risk of getting vulvar cancer. Women with precancerous conditions like intraepithelial neoplasia on the vulva are prone to develop vulvar cancer but are very rare.

Vulvar Cancer Diagnosis :

Your doctor will look for the above symptoms and examine your vulva carefully to check if there is any abnormal growth like lumps or sores on it. She may use colposcopy device for examining the vulva with magnifying glass. If required, she may do a biopsy by cutting a small tissue sample from the vulva region for testing it in the lab. She would then examine the pelvic region to find how far cancer has spread. To confirm the diagnosis you will be requested to do CT/MRI and other imaging tests necessary.

Stages of Vulvar Cancer :

Like any other cancer the growth and intensity of the cancer causing cells is determined by the stage of cancer.

• In the first stage, there would be a small lump on the vulva region often between the vagina and the anus. At this stage, the cancer will not spread to the lymph nodes.


• In the second stage, cancer causing tumors have grown and invaded nearby regions like lower portion of the anus, vagina and urethra.


• In the third stage, the cancer would have spread to the nearby lymph nodes.


• In the final stage, the cancer has extensively grown and spread to the upper regions of urethra, and even to the rectum and bladder. In rare cases the cancer would have metastasized to other parts of the body.

Treatment :

Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are the treatment options for vulvar cancer.

• Surgery :

This can be done in different ways based on the extent of spreading of cancer. Radical excision is made for removing a portion of cancerous tissue along with a margin of healthy tissue. A local excision is made to remove the area of cancerous cells. Partial vulvectomy is a procedure in which portion of vulva is removed apart from the underlying tissues of cancer. Radical vulvectomy is one in which the entire vulva region is removed due to widely spread cancer on the tissues. In this surgery the clitoris and vagina are also removed.

Extensive surgery is to be done if the cancer causing cells has spread to the nearby tissues and organs. Pelvic exenteration is done for removing the entire vulva, clitoris and vagina in addition to the vital organs like rectum, lower colon and the bladder. In this case the cancer would have spread to the lymph nodes also. Your surgeon will create a small opening to expel the waste products in a pouch called ostomy.

In cases where the entire vulva region is removed by surgery, grafting of skin is done from other parts of the body to close the vulva region. This is called as reconstructive surgery. This surgery carries some risk of developing infection and causing discomfort to the person after the surgery. Such women cannot have sexual intercourse even artificial vagina is replaced in the surgery. In some cases if the cancer has already spread to the lymph nodes the surgeon would remove the lymph nodes in the nearby areas during surgery. After the surgery she can develop swelling of legs due to fluid retention.

• Radiation Therapy :

In this method high energy beams are passed directly into the vulvar region to destroy cancerous cells. It has to be done by experts to pass radiation only on precise points of the skin. In some women, the surgeon would shrink the vulvar cancer through radiation so that cancer causing cells are totally destroyed. Often chemotherapy is combined with radiation method to get the best result.

• Chemotherapy :

In this method medications are used for killing cancerous cells. It is given in the form of venous injection or by oral pills. Chemotherapy is the ideal method for women who are in the final stages of vulvar cancer.

Coping :

Once you realize that you have vulvar cancer it will be shocking and challenging to accept it. You need to gather lot of information about vulvar cancer and discuss with your doctor about the various methods of treatment options. Stay connected with your family and friends to share your feelings. You can get in touch with the support groups with the help of your doctor.

Tips for Prevention :

The only way to prevent vulvar cancer is to reduce the risk of developing sexually transmitted diseases. Don’t have sex with multiple partners and by doing so you are reducing the risk of getting HPV and any other infections like HIV. Practice safe sex and insist on wearing condoms. Young girls can get vaccinated for HPV. Go for routine pelvic exams to ensure that everything is right with your reproductive organs.