Both men and women suffer from different health-related issues in which vulvar cancer is one of them. It is a cancer which leads to several deaths in our world. This problem occurs due to tobacco or HIV infections. It involves surgery or different medical treatments.

However, vulvar cancer is a rare diseases and mostly affect women. It affects the vulva, a part of a female’s vagina. It occurs when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in this area in the form of tumor. The risk factors of this problem are HPV infection and chronic irritation. Early detection of vulvar cancer is essential for recovery.

Vulvar Cancer Types

This cancer is of different types, which are as follows:

1. Squamous Cell Carcinoma

It is a most common cancer, which affects squamous cells in the vulva. This problem occurs due to sores or lump in this area which is not easily cured or prevented by the doctor.

2. Melanoma

It occurs in melanocytes which leads to skin pigmentation in patients. This cancer is less common and more aggressive for them. It appears as a dark and irregular-shaped spot in the vulva.

3. Basal Cell Carcinoma

It is a skin cancer that occurs in basal cells, a lower part of the outer layer of skin. This problem grows slowly and leads to local damage in the vulva.

4. Paget’s Disease

This problem is rare and slow growing, which usually affects the skin surface in the vulva. It leads to pain and itching in women, which can be treated through surgery or imiquimod cream. This Paget’s disease is similar to Paget’s disease in the breast.

5. Sarcoma

It is a rare vulvar cancer, which occurs in muscles or blood vessels. This problem leads to swelling or lump in the vulvar area.

Symptoms

The symptoms that occur due to this cancer are as follows:

1. Skin Discoloration

Unusual redness, thickening or discoloration in the skin of the vulva may be a sign and symptom of vulvar cancer.

2. Swelling

If cancer is affected in nearby lymph nodes, then it may swelling in the vulva or groin area.

3. Lump or Growth

Lump might be painful, harder or irregular in shape. It may be noticeable and cannot go away.

4. Abnormal Discharge

The abnormal discharge can be clear, bloody and have an unusual odor, which might be accompanied by other symptoms. This leads to harmful effects in patients.

5. Itching or Discomfort

Itching in the vulvar area can be severe and continuous, which causes discomfort in individuals. It is another symptom that occurs due to this cancer.

6. Sores or Ulcers

The sores or ulcers occur due to vulvar cancer in the vulva, which is not cured easily. It might be painful or bleeding in patients.

Diagnosis

Vulvar Cancer can be diagnosed in several ways:

Cystoscopy

It is a procedure which examines vulvar cancer in bladder and urethra. Doctor uses a lighted tube to check this problem.

Biopsy

This procedure tests vulvar cancer by removing sample tissue in the vulva. It is performed in a healthcare professional’s office or operation room.

Colposcopy

This procedure checks cancer in vagina, vulva and cervix. It involves a specialized instrument known as a colposcope to examine this problem.

MRI scan

MRI creates cross-sectional images with strong magnets and radio waves. It is an important procedure for the treatment of vulvar cancer. This scan also shows the cancer affected the brain and spinal cord.

CT scan

It is an X-ray test which helps in detecting vulvar cancer or enlarged lymph nodes in patients. It checks the cancer affected in lymph nodes and other body parts. This procedure is useful in treating large vulvar cancer.

PET scan

It is a useful imaging test, which manages vulvar cancer in lymph nodes and other body parts. This procedure is used in the form of radioactive sugar which is put into the blood. It creates the images of affected areas to provide helpful information about them.

Proctoscopy

This procedure involves treating vulvar cancer spread in rectum and anus. A thin and lighted tube is used for the treatment.

Treatments For Vulvar Cancer

Vulvar cancer consists of different treatments, which are as follows:

Surgery

It is a primary treatment of Vulvar cancer, which involves several procedures:

Removal of Lymph Nodes

If lymph nodes are affected due to vulvar cancer then it needs to be removed which helps in reducing its risk.

Removing Vulva Part or Entire Vulva

When suffering from large cancer, then Vulvectomy is a best option for the treatment. It is a surgery which involves removal of vulva. Partial vulvectomy is removal of part of the vulva, whereas radical vulvectomy is removal of the entire vulva.

Removal of Cancer and Some Healthy Tissues

An excision is involved in cutting down a margin of healthy-looking tissue, which ensures the removal of all cancer cells. This procedure is also known as wide local excision or radical excision.

Radiation therapy

This therapy uses powerful energy beams, which are delivered from X-rays, protons etc. A patient must lie on the table during radiation therapy. The machine moves around him or her and radiates precise points of the body.

Radiation therapy is used to kill cancer cells found around the lymph nodes. It combines with chemotherapy to treat this problem.

Chemotherapy

It uses strong medicines that treat vulvar cancer affecting other parts of the body. This therapy combines with radiation therapy to treat large vulvar cancer or cancer around lymph nodes.

Immunotherapy

This therapy helps the body’s immune system to fight diseases by attacking germs and other cancer cells. These cells are surviving by hiding from this system. It is also useful for the treatment of advanced vulvar cancer.

Targeted therapy

It uses medicinal drugs which target specific molecules present in cancer cells. This blocks these chemicals that lead to death in these cells. It also treats advanced vulvar cancer similar to immunotherapy.

How to Prevent Vulvar Cancer?

Vulvar Cancer can be prevented in following ways:

Pelvic Exam

Doctor checks the risk factors and symptoms by complete medical history. After that, he or she will examine this problem through a pelvic exam. It is the first step of preventing this cancer in patients. A doctor will also perform a Pap or HPV test for vagina and cervix.

Avoid Tobacco

Smoking tobacco leads to an increase in risk of vulgar cancer. If you are unable to quit, then consult with your healthcare provider. This problem might be treated through medicines and counseling.

Lower HPV Infection risk

HPV increases the risk of vulvar cancer due to sexual contact. If you want to reduce this problem, then follow these steps:

Use Condom: Condom might be helpful for HPV risk but it does not provide full protection from this problem.
Get HPV vaccine: Vaccine provides protection from virus due to vulvar cancer. You can talk to your healthcare provider about the HPV vaccine.