Description

Vulvar cancer is a cancer that begins as a growth of the cells in the vulva. The vulva is the area of skin that surrounds the urethra and the vagina. It includes the clitoris and the labia.

Vulvar cancer commonly forms as a lump or sore on the vulva that often causes itching. Although it can occur at any age, vulvar cancer is usually diagnosed in older adults.

Cancer of the vulva often the treatment begins with surgery to remove the cancer and a small amount of healthy tissue that surrounds it. Sometimes, the cancer of the vulva surgery, requires the removal of the entire vulva. The previous vulvar cancer is diagnosed, the less likely an extensive surgery is necessary for treatment.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of vulvar cancer may include:

  • A lump, warty coup or an open sore on the vulva.
  • Bleeding in the genital area, which is not of the period.
  • The itching of the skin of the vulva that does not go away.
  • The pain and tenderness that affects the vulva.
  • Skin changes, such as changes in the color of the skin of the vulva or thickening of the skin.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with a doctor, gynecologist or other health care professional if you have any symptoms that worry you.

Causes

It's not always clear what causes cancer of the vulva. This type of cancer begins in the area of the skin that surrounds the urethra and the vagina. The skin in this area is called the vulva.

Vulvar cancer occurs when the cells in the vulva develop changes in their DNA. A cell's DNA contains the instructions that tell the cell what to do. In healthy cells, the DNA contains the instructions to grow and multiply at a set rate. The instructions that tell cells to die at a set time. In cancer cells, changes in DNA to give different instructions. The changes, to tell the cancer cells to make many more cells quickly. Cancer cells can continue living when healthy cells would die. This makes too many cells.

The cancer cells may form a growth called a tumor. The tumor can grow to invade and destroy healthy body tissue. At the time, cancer cells can break off and spread to other parts of the body. When cancer spreads, it is called metastatic cancer.

What exactly causes changes in the DNA that lead to cancer of the vulva is not always known. Health professionals believe that some cancers of the vulva are caused by the human papilloma virus. The human papilloma virus, also known as HPV, is a common virus passed through sexual contact. Is associated with the most common type of cancer of the vulva, which is the vulva squamous cell carcinoma.

Types of cancer of the vulva

The type of cell where the cancer begins tells your health care team what type of cancer of the vulva has. Knowing that his cancer of the vulva kind of helps your healthcare team plan treatment more effective. Some types of vulvar cancer include:

  • Squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva. Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin cancer is cancer that starts in cells called squamous cells. Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that occurs most frequently in sun-exposed skin. But it can happen in any skin, including the skin of the vulva. The majority of cancers of the vulva are squamous cell carcinomas. This type of vulvar cancer is associated with HPV infection.
  • Melanoma of the Vulva. Melanoma is a cancer that begins in pigment-producing cells called melanocytes. Melanoma most commonly occurs on sun-exposed skin. But it can happen in any part of the skin, including the skin of the vulva.
  • Extramammary Paget's disease of the vulva. Extramammary Paget's disease is a cancer that begins in the vicinity of the sweat glands of the skin. It most often affects the skin of the vulva. Sometimes it happens at the same time that another type of cancer. This may include a cancer of the breast, colon, urinary system, or female reproductive system.

Risk factors

The factors that increase the risk of vulvar cancer include:

  • Advanced age. The risk of vulvar cancer increases with age, although it can occur at any age. The average age at diagnosis is 65 years.
  • Be exposed to the human papilloma virus. The human papilloma virus, also known as HPV , is a common virus that is spread through sexual contact. HPV increases the risk of several cancers, including cancer of the vulva and cervical cancer. Many young, sexually active people are exposed to HPV . For most, the infection goes away on its own. For some, the infection causes changes in the cells and increases the risk of cancer in the future.
  • The smoking of tobacco. Smoking tobacco increases the risk of cancer of the vulva.
  • Having a weakened immune system. If the body's germ-fighting immune system is weakened by medications or disease, there may be an increased risk of cancer of the vulva. People with a weakened immune system include those who take medications to control the immune system, such as after an organ transplant. Certain medical conditions, such as infection with HIV can weaken the immune system.
  • Having a history of a precancerous condition of the vulva. Vulvar intraepithelial Neoplasia is a precancerous condition that increases the risk of cancer of the vulva. Most cases of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia is never going to develop into cancer. But a small number go on to become invasive cancer of the vulva.
  • Have a condition of the skin that involves the vulva. Lichen sclerosus causes the vulvar skin to become thin and itchy. It also increases the risk of cancer of the vulva.

Prevention

To reduce the risk of cancer of the vulva, not tobacco smoke. Take steps to protect themselves from infection by human papillomavirus (hpv). The human papilloma virus, also known as HPV, associated with the most common type of cancer of the vulva.

Do not use tobacco

Smoking tobacco increases the risk of cancer of the vulva. If you don't smoke, don't start. If you smoke, talk with a healthcare professional about all the things that can help you stop smoking. This may include medication and counseling.

Reduce your risk of HPV infection

HPV is a common virus that is spread through sexual contact. Increases the risk of cancer of the vulva. To help reduce the risk of HPV infection:

  • Use a condom every time you have sex. Condoms can reduce the risk of getting HPV, but may not protect completely against it.
  • Get theHPVvaccine. The vaccine protects against the strains of virus that are thought to cause cancer of the vulva. Talk with a health professional about whether the HPV vaccine is right for you.

Diagnosis

Vulvar cancer diagnosis often begins with a physical examination and a review of your health history. A special magnifying device can be used to inspect the area. A tissue sample may be taken for laboratory testing.

The examination of the vulva

Your health care professional is likely to conduct a physical examination of your vulva to find anything related.

The health professional can make use of a magnifying instrument to look closely at the vulva. This instrument, called a colposcope. Also can be used to look at the vagina and cervix.

Biopsy

A biopsy is a procedure to remove a sample of tissue for testing in a lab. For vulvar cancer, a biopsy involves removing a sample of skin.

A biopsy of the vulva can be done in a health care professional for the office. In medicine is used to numb the area. The health professional can use a blade or a circular cutting tool to remove a bit of skin.

Sometimes, the sample is extracted in an operating room. During this type of biopsy, you will receive medications to put you in a sleep-like state, so that you're not aware during the procedure.

The staging of cancer of the vulva

If you are diagnosed with cancer of the vulva, the next step is to determine the cancer of the measure, called the stage. Your healthcare team uses the stage of the cancer, the results of the test to help you to create your treatment plan.

Essay tests can include:

  • The examination of your pelvic area for cancer has spread. Your health care professional can do a more thorough examination of her pelvis for signs that the cancer has spread.
  • Imaging tests. The images of his chest, the abdomen or the pelvis can show if the cancer has spread to these areas. The tests may include X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging , computed tomography and positron emission tomography, also called PET scan.

Stages of cancer of the vulva in the range of 1 to 4. Stage 1 cancer of the vulva is small and confined to the vulva. As the cancer grows or spreads beyond the area where it is started, the stages get more. A stage 4 cancer of the vulva has emerged in the pelvic bone or spread to other parts of the body.

Treatment

The treatment for vulvar cancer usually begins with surgery to remove the cancer. Other treatments may include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.

Your health care team takes into account many factors when creating a treatment plan. These factors can include your general health, the type and stage of your cancer, and your preferences.

Surgery

For the majority of cancers of the vulva, surgery is the first treatment. The procedures used to treat vulvar cancer include:

  • Remove the cancer and some healthy tissue. An excision involves cutting the cancer and a small amount of healthy tissue that surrounds it, called the margin. Cut a margin of healthy-looking tissue, helps to ensure that all cancer cells have been removed. This procedure can also be called a wide local excision or radical excision.
  • The removal of part of the vulva or all of the vulva. Vulvectomy is a surgery to remove the vulva. When the part of the vulva is removed, it is called partial vulvectomy. When the whole of the vulva and the underlying tissue is removed, is called a radical vulvectomy. Vulvectomy may be an option for the major types of cancer. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy may be used before surgery to reduce the size of the cancer. This may allow for a less extensive operation.
  • Removing a couple of nearby lymph nodes. A biopsy of sentinel lymph nodes for signs of cancer in nearby lymph nodes. This procedure identifies the lymph nodes most likely to contain cancer. The lymph nodes are removed and tested. If no cancer is found, it is unlikely that the cancer has spread. For vulvar cancer, sentinel lymph nodes may be removed from one or more areas.
  • The removal of many of the lymph nodes. If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, many of the lymph nodes can be removed to reduce the risk of the cancer spreading to other parts of the body.

The surgery carries a risk of complications. These may include infection and problems with the scarring around the incision. Removal of lymph nodes can cause fluid retention and swelling of the legs, a condition called lymphedema.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy treats cancer with powerful rays of energy. The energy can come from X-rays, protons or other sources. During radiation therapy, you lie on a table while a machine moves around you. The machine directs radiation to precise points on your body.

Radiation therapy is sometimes used to reduce the large cancers of the vulva before the surgery. Sometimes radiation therapy combined with chemotherapy. The use of a low dose of the chemotherapy drug for the treatment of radiation makes the radiation more effective.

If cancer cells are found in the lymph nodes, radiation therapy may be used in the area around the lymph nodes. This treatment can kill cancer cells that may remain after surgery. Radiation is sometimes in combination with chemotherapy in these situations.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy treats the cancer with strong medications. Many chemotherapy drugs exist. The majority of chemotherapy drugs are given through a vein. Some come in the form of a pill.

For those with vulvar cancer that has spread to other areas of the body, chemotherapy may be an option.

Chemotherapy is sometimes combined with radiation therapy to reduce the large cancers of the vulva before the surgery. Chemotherapy can also be combined with radiation to treat cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes.

Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy for cancer is a treatment that uses drugs that attack specific chemicals in cancer cells. By blocking these chemicals, specific treatments can cause cancer cells to die. For vulvar cancer, targeted therapy may be used for the treatment of advanced cancer of the vulva.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy for cancer is a treatment with a medication that helps the body's immune system destroys the cancer cells. The immune system fights diseases by attacking the germs and other cells that should not be in the body. Cancer cells survive by hiding from the immune system. Immunotherapy helps the cells of the immune system find and kill cancer cells. For vulvar cancer, immunotherapy can be used to treat advanced cancer of the vulva.

The follow-up testing after treatment

After completing the vulvar cancer treatment, your health care professional is recommended periodic examinations to see if the cancer has returned. Even after successful treatment, the cancer of the vulva may return. Your health professional will determine the schedule of follow-up examinations right for you. The exams are generally recommended 2 to 4 times each year during the first two years after cancer of the vulva treatment.

Coping and support

With time, you will find what helps you to deal with the uncertainty and the concern of a diagnosis of cancer of the vulva. Until then, you can find help for:

Learn enough about the cancer of the vulva to make decisions about your care

Ask your health care team about your cancer, including your test results, treatment options, and, if you like, your prognosis. As you learn more about cancer of the vulva, you can be more confident in making treatment choices.

Keep friends and family close

Keep your close relationships strong can help you deal with the cancer of the vulva. Friends and family can provide the practical support that you may need, such as help to take care of your house if you're in the hospital. And that you can serve as emotional support when you feel overwhelmed by the fact of having cancer.

Find someone to talk to

Find someone who is willing to listen to you talk about your hopes and concerns. This can be a friend or family member. The concern and understanding of a counselor, medical social worker, clergy member or cancer support group may also be useful.

Ask your health care team about support groups in your area. In the united States, other sources of information are the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society.

You don't have a fear of intimacy

A natural reaction to the changes in your body may be to avoid intimacy. Although it may not be easy to talk about your feelings with your partner. You may also find it helpful to talk with a therapist, either on your own or together with your partner. Remember that you can express their sexuality in so many ways. Touching, holding, hugging, and touching can be much more important for you and your partner.

Preparing for your appointment

Make an appointment with your regular doctor, an ob-gyn or other health care professional if you have any symptoms that worry you.

If you detect that they have cancer of the vulva, your health care professional may refer you to a doctor who specializes in cancers of the female reproductive system. This doctor is called a gynecologist oncologist.

It is a good idea to prepare for your appointment. Here's some information to help you prepare.

What you can do

  • Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there is anything that you need to do in advance, such as restrict your diet.
  • Write down any symptoms you have, including those that do not seem to be related to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
  • Write important personal information, including major stresses or recent life changes.
  • Make a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements you are taking and the dose.
  • Have a family member or friend. Sometimes it can be very difficult to remember all the information provided during an appointment. Someone who goes with you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
  • Write questions to ask their health care team.

Your time with your health care team is limited, so preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of their time together. A list of questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For cancer of the vulva, some basic questions to ask include:

  • What kind of proof do you need?
  • I need to do anything to prepare for these tests?
  • Apart from cancer of the vulva, there are other possible causes of these symptoms?
  • What kind of vulvar cancer do I have?
  • What stage is my cancer?
  • What types of surgical options are available for me?
  • What kind of success rates of each type of surgery has?
  • What are the drawbacks of each type of surgery?
  • I'll have to use an ostomy bag?
  • What about radiation or chemotherapy? Options are available to me?
  • What kind of success rates than do those therapies?
  • What types of side effects of each treatment?
  • How these treatments affect my sexuality?
  • I'm going to be able to have children after treatment?
  • How should I prepare for the treatment?
  • The course of action do you recommend?
  • What are the chances of recurrence?
  • What is my prognosis?

Do not hesitate to ask other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Be prepared to answer questions, such as:

  • When did your symptoms begin?
  • The symptoms been continuous or occasional?
  • How severe are the symptoms?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
  • Have you ever been diagnosed with lichen sclerosis?
  • Have you ever been in a relationship with the Pap test result?
  • Have you ever been diagnosed with HPV ?
Symptoms and treatment of cancer of the Vulva