Vulvar cancer starts in the vulva of women. Although the most common type is squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, melanoma, sarcoma, and verrucous carcinoma. Squamous cancer progresses through a “precancerous” condition, which may develop into cancer called vulva intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN). VIN is a premalignant growth of cells on the vulva that is still not cancerous but can develop into one.
Usual-type VIN emerges in younger women and is concomitant with human papillomavirus (HPV). Differentiated VIN is scarce, appearing mostly in older women, and is not associated with HPV. Melanomas develops in the vulva, on the clitoris or the labia minora.
Statistics
Vulvar cancer is quite rare, claiming about 6% of the cancers. 6,120 women were diagnosed A woman’s risk for vulvar cancer continually increases with age. White women are most likely to be diagnosed with the disease. 1,350 deaths would occur from vulvar cancer this year.
Risk Factors And Symptoms
The major risks are:
- Age (over 70 years old)
- HPV infection (human papillomavirus)
- Smoking tobacco
- HIV infection (human immunodeficiency virus)
- Cervical cancer
- Melanoma, or atypical moles on other parts of the body
- Family history of melanoma
Symptoms include a lump or growth in or on the vulvar area or groin (enlarged lymph node), a patch of skin that is differently textured or colored than the rest of the vulvar area, persistent itching, pain, soreness, or burning in the vulvar area, painful urination, bleeding or discharge that is not menstrual blood, persistent ulcer, change in the appearance of an existing mole, and wart-like growths that are similar to genital warts.
Prevention
- Delaying first sexual intercourse until the late teens or older
- Avoiding sexual intercourse with multiple partners
- Avoiding sexual intercourse with someone who has had many partners
- Practicing safe sex, including condom use, although condoms cannot fully protect against HPV
- Having regular Pap tests to find and treat precancerous conditions
- Quit smoking
Treatment
Surgery (vulvectomy, laser surgery, lymphadenectomy, pelvic exenteration), chemotherapy, radiation therapy (Internal radiation therapy), topical therapy (Fluorouracil (5-FU), Imiquimod) are the currently available treatment options.
