Around 1,000 women every year are diagnosed with vulval cancer. Most vulval cancers develop from cells called squamous cells. This cancer is called squamous cell carcinoma.
Rarely, a woman can also develop a vulval skin cancer called vulval melanoma, where the pigment in the skin that gives it its color, turns cancerous.
Other types include cancer of the glands in the vulva (adenocarcinoma), cancer of the deepest layer of tissue of the vulva (basal cell carcinoma) and a wart forming cancer.
What are the Symptoms of Vulval Cancer?
Symptoms are:
• Itching and burning of the vulva
• Patchy skin of the vulva, redness or thickening of the skin
• Bleeding that isn’t a period
• Pain in the vulva
• Burning pain when passing urine
• Pain with sexual intercourse
• Sores on the vulva
• Lumps on the vulva.
Some of these symptoms can be caused by other, less serious and non-cancerous conditions such as vulvodynia, but if you are having any of these symptoms you should see your doctor to get a diagnosis.
Why do Women Get Vulval Cancer?
Women who already have a vulval condition are more likely to get vulval cancer. Conditions like lichen sclerosis and lichen planus of the vulva slightly increase the risk. Women with a history of long-term itching and inflammation of the vulva may be at increased risk of developing vulval cancer, as are women who have been diagnosed with vulval intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN), a pre-cancer of the vulva.
Women over the age of 60 are at increased risk, possibly due to hormone changes.
Proportionally more smokers than non-smokers get vulval cancer.
Unprotected sex and infection with types 16, 18 or 31 HPV can cause vulval cancer in women with weaker immune systems. Often, HPV is present in the body and does not cause any harm. Using condoms and limiting the number of sexual partners you have can prevent sexually transmitted HPV.
Diagnosis
If you have any unusual symptoms, your doctor will examine your vulva for signs of any changes to the skin, or lumps. If you have any lumps, a small sample of these will be taken, called a biopsy, to be examined under a microscope. You will also have an internal examination to check the condition of the vagina and determine if there are any lumps on the cervix or ovaries. A smear test (to check the cells of the cervix) may also be taken. If you are embarrassed you can ask to have a female doctor or nurse.
If you have any vulval pain condition, you can ask to have the examinations done under general anesthetic.
Treatment of Vulval Cancer
Treatment for vulval cancer is surgery to remove the affected tissue, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
There is research going on into the treatment of VIN, a cause of vulval cancer, with anti-viral creams, but this is still in experimental stages.
The best treatment for vulval cancer is prevention. Not smoking, having safe sex and having regular check up’s if you have a vulval pain condition are effective ways to minimize your risk.
Source: Macmillian Cancer Research.
Joanna is a freelance health writer for The Mother magazine and Suite 101 with a column on infertility, http://infertility.suite101.com/. She is author of the book, 'Breast Milk: A Natural Immunisation,' and co-author of an educational resource on disabled parenting, in addition to running a charity for people damaged by vaccines or medical mistakes.