Vulvar Cancer

Vulvar cancer is a rare gynaecological cancer that is most common in older women that is usually treated with surgery.

What is Vulvar Cancer?

Vulvar cancer is a malignancy of the labia, perineum or clitoris. It's commonly associated with Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, but other risk factors include smoking, lichen sclerosis, immune deficiency and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). It sometimes follows a precancerous syndrome called vulval intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN)

How common is Vulvar cancer?

Vulvar cancer is quite rare, about 400 women a year are diagnosed in Australia and around 150 women die from vulval cancer. It’s much more common in older women with only about eight percent of cases occurring in women below the age of forty-five (less than two percent of cases occurring in women younger than thirty-five). These statistics might be daunting, but it’s important to remember that early detection significantly improves outcomes. The CHARLI team want you to feel in control of your health and we’re here to provide you with the knowledge and support to recognise symptoms early.

What are the symptoms of Vulvar cancer?

Vulvar cancer may present with a mass, lesion or ulceration. You may also experience bleeding,pain or intractable itching. If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to consult your doctor immediately.

How is it diagnosed?

Vulvar cancer is most commonly diagnosed at an early stage and will be diagnosed by your doctor doing a biopsy (surgically removing all or part of a lesion), usually guided by a colposcopy (examination of the vulva with a microscope).

Other similar conditions to look out for include: Vulvar melanoma, VIN, Lichen sclerosis or other dermatological conditions, genital warts, epidermal inclusion cysts or seborrheic keratoses.

What are the treatment options?

Vulvar cancer may be treated by:

1. Surgery - most vulva cancers are treated by surgical excision, some may also require surgically removing lymph glands from the groin.

2. Other therapies – Some more advanced vulvar cancers may require chemotherapy and radiation therapy. This may be in addition to surgery or instead of, if surgery is not possible for you.

How effective is treatment?

The good news is that early-stage disease with no spread to the lymph glands has a relatively high survival rate, with up to ninety-three percent of patients surviving at least five years after treatment. Unfortunately, those patients with disease found in the lymph glands have a poorer outlook, with only twenty-five to forty percent surviving for five years after treatment. Vulval cancer has a relatively high recurrence rate with about fifty percent of patients having a recurrence on the vulva. This is treated with a further surgical excision.

We understand that the idea of vulvar cancer might be overwhelming. Armed with knowledge, resources and support from CHARLI, you can face this challenge.