Vulvar CancerSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Vulvar Cancer
Vulvar cancer is cancer that starts in the vulva. Vulvar cancer most often affects the labia, the folds of skin outside the vagina. In some cases, vulvar cancer starts on the clitoris or in glands on the sides of the vaginal opening.
Cancer - vulva; Cancer - perineum; Cancer - vulvar; Genital warts - vulvar cancer; HPV - vulvar cancer
Most vulvar cancers begin in skin cells called squamous cells. Other types of cancers found on the vulva are:
- Adenocarcinoma
- Basal cell carcinoma
- Melanoma
- Sarcoma
Vulvar cancer is rare. Risk factors include:
- Human papilloma virus (HPV, or genital warts) infection in women under age 50
- Chronic skin changes, such as lichen sclerosis or squamous hyperplasia in women over age 50
- History of cervical cancer or vaginal cancer
- Smoking
Women with a condition called vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) may develop into a vulvar cancer that spreads. Most cases of VIN, though, never lead to cancer.
Other possible risk factors may include:
- History of abnormal Pap smears
- Having many sexual partners
- Having first sexual intercourse at 16 or younger
Women with this condition will often have itching around the vagina for years. They may have used different skin creams. They may also have bleeding or discharge outside their periods.
Other skin changes that may occur around the vulva:
- Mole or freckle, which may be pink, red, white, or gray
- Skin thickening or lump
- Skin sore (ulcer), especially if non healing
Other symptoms:
- Pain or burning with urination
- Pain with intercourse
- Unusual odor
Some women with vulvar cancer have no symptoms.
Treatment involves surgery to remove the cancer cells. If the tumor is large (more than 2 cm) or has grown into the skin, the lymph nodes in the groin area may also be removed.
Radiation, with or without chemotherapy, may be used to treat:
- Advanced tumors that cannot be treated with surgery
- Vulvar cancer that comes back
- Women who are not medically able to undergo surgery
UPMC Magee-Womens Gynecologic Oncology
Dr. Sukumvanich is a specialized surgeon and gynecologic oncologist, specializing in the treatment of gynecologic and breast cancers. He serves as an assistant professor in the School of Medicine, and his research centers on the genetic causes of ovarian and breast cancers, and also cancer informatics (the science of analyzing large amounts of information). Dr. Sukumvanich is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Vulvar Cancer. He is also highly rated in 17 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Endometrial Cancer, Vaginal Cancer, Vulvar Cancer, Vulvectomy, and Hysterectomy. Dr. Sukumvanich is board certified in American Board Of Obstetrics And Gynecology and American Board Of Obstetrics And Gynecology. Dr. Sukumvanich is currently accepting new patients.
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
Akila Viswanathan, M.D., M.P.H., is the director for the Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, and a professor of radiation oncology, gynecology/obstetrics and oncology for Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Viswanathan leads the department emphasizing excellence in clinical care, research and education. She has expertise with gynecologic cancers and their treatment, including cervical and uterine cancers and image-guided brachytherapy. She has developed numerous clinical innovations and initiated several system-wide integration efforts at all sites, including Green Spring Station, Bayview, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Suburban's Rockledge site, and Sibley Memorial Hospital for the Johns Hopkins Department of Radiation Oncology. Dr. Viswanathan earned her undergraduate degree at Harvard University, her medical degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, followed by her Masters in Public Health and Masters in Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health. She completed a residency in radiation oncology at the Joint Center for Radiation Therapy at Harvard Medical School, where she served as chief resident. She has had research grant funding through the National Cancer Institute K07, R21 and R01 programs to support efforts in gynecologic cancers, specifically looking at the identification of gynecologic tumors at the time of brachytherapy under magnetic resonance imaging. The research team has developed several novel clinical innovations. Dr. Viswanathan has been named one of America's Top Doctors by Newsweek, Who’s who in America, and a Super Doctor by the Washington Post magazine. Dr. Viswanathan served as President and Chair of the Board of the American Brachytherapy Society; Chair of Education Committee for American Society for Radiation Oncology; and, on the Gynecologic Cancer Steering Committee and the uterine cancer task force for the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Akila Viswanathan has published more than 200 articles and chapters, and lectures nationally and internationally. She is the Editor-in-Chief for Seminars in Radiation Oncology. She is on the editorial board of Gynecologic Oncology and Brachytherapy, and is an editor of several textbooks including Gynecologic Radiation Therapy: Novel Approaches to Image-Guidance and Management, Radiation Therapy Techniques for Gynecologic Cancers, and Gunderson and Tepper's Clinical Radiation Oncology. Make A Gift. Dr. Viswanathan is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Vulvar Cancer. She is also highly rated in 10 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Vaginal Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Vulvar Cancer, Vulvectomy, and Cordotomy. Dr. Viswanathan is board certified in American Board Of Radiology.
Magee-Womens Gynecologic Oncology At Passavant
Madeleine Courtney Brooks, MD, MPH, specializes in gynecologic oncology and is certified in gynecologic oncology and obstetrics and gynecology by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She practices at UPMC Magee-Womens Gynecologic Oncology and is affiliated with UPMC Presbyterian, UPMC Mercy, UPMC Passavant, UPMC Shadyside, and UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital. Dr. Courtney Brooks completed her medical degree at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, residency at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and fellowship at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.LGBTQIA+ Affirming: This provider has completed training on how to create a safe, comfortable, and welcoming environment for LGBTQIA+ patients. This provider may or may not offer LGBTQIA+ specific medical or surgical care. Please ask when scheduling. Dr. Brooks is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Vulvar Cancer. She is also highly rated in 17 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Endometrial Cancer, Vulvar Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Vulvectomy, and Hysterectomy. Dr. Brooks is board certified in American Board Of Obstetrics And Gynecology and American Board Of Obstetrics And Gynecology. Dr. Brooks is currently accepting new patients.
You can ease the stress of illness by joining a cancer support group. Sharing with others who have common experiences and problems can help you not feel alone.
Most women with vulvar cancer who are diagnosed and treated at an early stage do well. But a woman's outcome depends on:
- The size of the tumor
- The type of vulvar cancer
- Whether the cancer has spread
The cancer commonly comes back at or near the site of the original tumor.
Complications may include:
- Spread of the cancer to other areas of the body
- Side effects of radiation, surgery, or chemotherapy
Contact your health care provider if you have any of these symptoms for more than 2 weeks:
- Local irritation
- Skin color change
- Sore on the vulva
Practicing safer sex may decrease your risk for vulvar cancer. This includes using condoms to protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
A vaccine is available to protect against certain forms of HPV infection. The vaccine is approved to prevent cervical cancer and genital warts. It may help prevent other cancers linked to HPV, such as vulvar cancer. The vaccine is given to young girls before they become sexually active, and to adolescents and women up to age 45.
Routine pelvic exams can help detect vulvar cancer at an earlier stage. Earlier diagnosis improves your chances that treatment will be successful.
Summary: The ANTARES study is a phase II basket trial designed to evaluate the tissue-agnostic efficacy of the monoclonal anti-PD1 antibody, nivolumab, in patients with advanced or metastatic rare tumors. The study aims to treat rare malignancies with PD-L1 expression (CPS ≥ 10), regardless of the tumor's tissue type or location. Patients who have not responded to standard treatments will be included, and ...
Summary: This study is being done to answer the following question: Are there types of early-stage vulvar cancer that require either less or more treatment than the usual approach?
Published Date: March 31, 2024
Published By: Howard Goodman, MD, Gynecologic Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, West Palm Beach, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Frumovitz M. Neoplastic diseases of the vulva and vagina. In: Gershenson DM, Lentz GM, Valea FA, Lobo RA, eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 30.
Jhingran A, Russell AH, Seiden MV, et al. Cancers of the cervix, vulva, and vagina. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 84.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network website. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines). Vulvar cancer (squamous cell cardinoma) Version 4.2024 – May 1, 2024. www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/vulvar.pdf. Accessed June 15, 2024.
National Cancer Institute website. Vulvar cancer treatment (PDQ) - health professional version. www.cancer.gov/types/vulvar/hp/vulvar-treatment-pdq. Updated February 16, 2024. Accessed June 10, 2024.