Vulval cancer (sometimes called vulvar cancer) occurs when abnormal cells in the vulva begin to grow and divide in an uncontrolled way. Vulval cancer is a rare cancer and can start in any part of the vulva.
The vulva is the area around the opening of the vagina, including the inner and outer lips around the vagina (labia) and the clitoris.
The most common area for the vulval cancer to develop is the skin of the labia. It can also sometimes affect the tip of the clitoris or the Bartholin’s glands (located on either side of the vaginal opening).
Not everyone diagnosed with vulval cancer will have symptoms.
Common symptoms of vulval cancer include:
- a lump
- open sore or lesion in the vulva
- bleeding from the vulva, or blood-stained vaginal discharge, that is unrelated to periods
- itching that does not get better
- burning when passing urine
The most common type of vulval cancer is squamous cell carcinoma, which can take many years to develop. It usually starts with pre-cancerous changes to the outer layer of the skin cells of the vulva.
Rarer types of vulval cancer include:
- verrucous carcinoma
- basal cell carcinoma
- melanoma
- adenocarcinoma
- sarcoma
- bartholin gland cancer
Treatment for vulval cancer at CUH
The treatment you have depends on several factors, which include:
- the type and size of the cancer
- the stage of the cancer
- your general health
- whether you want to get pregnant in future
A team of specialists at CUH will meet to discuss your condition and to make a recommendation about the best possible treatment for you.
You, along with your clinician, will then discuss your treatment recommendations at the clinic appointment and decide on the right treatment plan for you. Your clinician will explain the different treatments and their side effects.
The treatment for vulval cancer can include:
- surgery
- radiotherapy
- chemotherapy
- immunotherapy
- clinical trials
The main treatment for vulval cancer is usually surgery. At times, you may however require more than one treatment or a combination of different treatments to give the best chance of long-term cure and to help reduce the risk of the cancer coming back.