Live Life Team
Vulva cancer is a very rare occurrence as compared to the other forms of cancer. A vulva is the exterior-most sexual organ of a woman, made up of two sets of lips. They are the outer labia majora and the inner labia minora. This part of the woman’s body also consists of the clitoris and a part of the vagina.
The vulva cancer might happen in any part of the vulva, but it most commonly occurs in the edges along the inner and outer lips of the vulva. The clitoris is the least affected spot in vulva cancer. The cancer is more often diagnosed by checking the skin in between the vulva and the anus.
Symptoms of vulva cancer
These types of cancerous tissues do not develop very fast, but are dormant for a long period before they appear. The first signs will be a change from the normal cells becoming abnormal. This is called as a pre-cancerous state, wherein it does not imply that the cancer has set in. the pre-cancerous cells can be treated to prevent cancerous growth in the body.
These symptoms of the cancer stages are: –
- Itching feeling that lasts long.
- Sore feeling or painful touch.
- Coloured patches or thickened raised patches on the area.
- Visible growth or sore pores on the vulva.
- Urination with burning sensation.
- Bleeding through the vagina.
- A vulva mole that changes colour and shapes.
- Swelling in the vulva.
Causes of vulva cancer
Generally the cause for this condition is still not known. However, women who contract some long-term illnesses that are not cancerous like vulval lichen sclerosus or vulva lichen planus have a much larger risk of contracting this cancer. These conditions are determined by itchy feeling or soreness in the area, and the can be cured using certain ointments or creams.
VIN or vulval intraepithelial neoplasia is a condition that happens on the vulva skin, and is caused by a type of virus growth called the HPV. This leads to the pre-cancerous stage, and has to be treated on time in order to prevent cancer growth. The HPV can be of different types, some being very mild while others can be very dangerous. Vulva cancer is not contagious, and does not pass on from one person to another.
Diagnosing vulva cancer
The different tests used to diagnose vulva cancer are: cystoscopy, proctoscopy, CT scan, MRI scan and X-rays.
Treating vulva cancer
Treatment depends upon the extent of cancerous growth in the area. The two major treatments that may be advised are: –
Surgery – an operation known as the wide local extension is performed in most cases, which aims at eliminating the cancer tissues from the vulva region. In addition, the lymph nodes of the area may be taken out as a precautionary measure. In case of the labia being removed, the surgery is called radical vulvectomy.
Radiotherapy – radiotherapy is used to destroy the cancer cells that are left behind in case of any, after the surgery is performed.
