Vulvar cancer is a type of cancer that occurs on the genitals of women. Specifically, this includes the area that surrounds the urethra and vagina, including the clitoris and labia.. The vagina is a muscular tube that connects your uterus to your external genitalia. Vulvar cancer is a type of cancer that occurs on the genitals of women. Specifically, this includes the area that surrounds the urethra and vagina, including the clitoris and labia. The vagina is a muscular tube that connects your uterus to your external genitalia. Vaginal cancer is usually found in the cells that line the surface of your vagina, sometimes called the birth canal. Although many types of cancer can spread to your vagina from other places in your body, cancer that starts in your vagina is rare. Vaginal and Vulvar Cancers.
Symptoms Of Vaginal and Vulvar Cancers.
- Itching or burning of the vulva
- A mass or bump along the vulva
- Abnormal bleeding from outside the vagina
- Irregular lesions on the vulva
- Persistent abnormal discharge from the vagina
- Vaginal mass
- Irregular vaginal bleeding
- Bleeding after intercourse
- Vaginal pressure/pain
Causes
In general, doctors know that cancer starts when a cell develops changes (mutations) in its DNA. The mutations cause the cell to grow and divide faster. The cell and its progeny survive when other normal cells die. Accumulated cells form a tumor that can become cancerous, invade nearby tissue, and spread to other parts of the body.
Diagnosis:
Women should have their health care provider examine and biopsy any lesion, especially if it is accompanied by itching, pain, or bleeding. Biopsy is essential to distinguish vulvar cancer from other benign vulvar lesions, which may also have symptoms of pruritus and/or lumps.
Vaginal colposcopy, a dilated examination of the vagina after the application of dilute acetic acid (or table vinegar), can also identify lesions related to VAIN or vaginal cancer that can be biopsied.
Types
The vulva includes the labia majora, mons pubis, labia maura, clitoris, vaginal vestibule, vestibular bulb, greater and lesser vestibular glands, and vaginal opening.
Vulvar cancer usually affects the outer lips of the vagina.
Cancers that arise in the vulva are called primary vulvar cancer.
There are several types of vulvar cancer.
Squamous cell carcinoma affects the flat, outer layers of the skin. About 90% of all vulvar cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. It takes years for noticeable symptoms to develop.
Vulvar melanoma accounts for about 5% of all vulvar cancers. Melanoma presents as dark patches of pigmentation. This type of cancer has a high risk of spreading to other parts of the body, a process known as metastasis. It can affect young women.
Adenocarcinoma originates in glandular tissue, and in this case, the cells attach to the gland in the vulva. It accounts for a very small proportion of vulvar cancer.
Sarcoma arises in connective tissue. Most of these types of cancer are malignant. This is rare.
Verrucous carcinoma is a subtype of squamous cell carcinoma, and it appears as a slowly growing wart.
The outlook is usually good if the diagnosis is made in the early stages, before the cancer has spread, and if the woman receives prompt and appropriate treatment.
Treatment Of Vaginal and Vulvar Cancers.
Women with known or suspected vulvar or vaginal cancer should be evaluated by an ophthalmologist. For vulvar dysplasia (VIN) and invasive cancer, surgery is usually the initial intervention, with local excision of the lesion. Resection of inguinal lymph nodes may also be indicated with invasive vulvar cancer. Chemotherapy may be used to shrink large vulvar cancers that are not amenable to surgery.
Treatment for vaginal dysplasia (VAIN) may include surgery, or alternatively the use of chemotherapy creams. Invasive vaginal cancer is often treated with radiation therapy.
Risk Factors
Age: More than half of all cases occur in women over the age of 70, and less than 1 in 5 occur before the age of 50.
Human papillomavirus (HPV): Women infected with HPV have a higher risk of developing vulval cancer.
Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN): This is a general term for a precancerous condition, in which some of the cells within the vulvar epithelium are low-grade carcinoma
Lichen sclerosis et atrophicus (LSA): This causes the skin to thicken and itch, and may slightly increase susceptibility to vulvar cancer.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs): Women with high levels of antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 2 have a higher risk of vulvar cancer.
Smoking: Studies show that women who smoke regularly have a three- to six-fold increased risk of vulvar cancer. If a regular smoker also has an HPV infection, the risk is still higher.
Kidney transplant: A kidney transplant increases the risk of developing vulvar cancer. These drugs are used for the rest of the patient’s life after the transplant to prevent the body from rejecting the organ.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): People with HIV or AIDS are more susceptible to HPV infection.
Other risk factors include having systemic lupus erythematosus, also known as SLE or lupus, having psoriasis, or radiotherapy for ovarian cancer.
Difference between vaginal and vulvar cancer
When cancer starts in the vagina, it is called vaginal cancer. The vagina, also called the birth canal, is a hollow, tube-like channel between the bottom of the uterus and the outside of the body. When cancer forms in the vulva, it is vulvar cancer.
First symptoms of vulvar cancer
A lump or growth (an enlarged lymph node) in or on the vulvar area or groin.
A piece of skin that is different in texture or color from the rest of the vulva.
Persistent itching, pain, soreness, or burning in the vulvar area.
Painful urination