Vulvar cancer is a rare cancer of a woman's external genitals, the vulva. It usually grows slowly over several years, beginning as precancerous cells on the skin of the vulva, called vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN), or dysplasia. Not every case of VIN becomes cancer, but it is best treated early.
Signs
It often causes no symptoms at first. See a doctor for testing if you notice:
- a lump in the vulva;
- itching or tenderness of the vulva;
- bleeding that isn't your period;
- changes in the skin of the vulva, such as colour changes or growths that look like a wart or an ulcer.
Risk
Your risk is higher if you have had a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection or genital warts.
Diagnosis and treatment
Doctors diagnose it with a physical exam and a biopsy. Treatment depends on your overall health and how advanced the cancer is, and may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or biologic therapy, which boosts the body's own ability to fight cancer.
Sources
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, "Vulvar Cancer," from the NIH National Cancer Institute. https://medlineplus.gov/vulvarcancer.html
- Rewritten in hubnx's own words.
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from medlineplus.gov
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