Vulvar cancer is a rare form of gynecologic cancer
Vulvar is the second most typical type of cancer we treat which often gets misdiagnosed until there is a large enough tumor on the vulva. Half of all Vulvar Cancers are linked with the high-risk HPV. This Cancer Account for Only About 4% of Reproductive Cancers in Women.
Types of vulvar cancer include Squamous cell carcinomas, Adenocarcinoma, Melanoma, Sarcoma and Basal cell carcinoma. Most cancers of the vulva are squamous cell carcinomas which begin in squamous cells, the main type of skin cells. However, there are several subtypes of squamous cell carcinoma, the keratinizing type is most common, and usually develops in older women. Basaloid and warty types are less common and are often found in younger women with HPV infections.
Common Symptoms and Facts:
- Vulva that looks different from normal
- A bump or lump, which could be red, pink, or white
- Thickening of the skin of the vulva
- Itching, pain or burning
- Bleeding or discharge
- Open sores
Cancer of the vulva most often affects the inner edges of the labia majora or the labia minora. Cancer occurs on the clitoris or in the Bartholin glands less often.
The average age of women diagnosed with invasive vulvar cancer is 70, compared to women diagnosed with non-invasive vulvar cancer average 20 years younger.
- Burning
- Itching
- Bleeding
- Skin color change
- Persistent lesions
- Dysuria
- Pain
- HPV
- History of cervical cancer/dysplasia
- Immunosuppression
- Smoking
- Chronic vulvar pruritis
- Radical Surgery/Lymphadenectomy
- Radiation