Vulvar Cancer

Vulvar cancer is a rare cancer that forms in the tissues of your vulva. “Vulva” is the collective name for all the external sex organs, or genitals, of women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB). Your vulva includes:

Opening of your vagina: The muscular canal for sex, childbirth and menstruation (periods).
Labia minora (inner lips): Tissue folds that surround your vaginal opening and extend above your clitoris.
Labia majora (outer lips): Fleshy area that surrounds your inner lips.
The outer part of your clitoris: The sexually sensitive nub of flesh above your vaginal opening.
Mons pubis: The rounded area in front of your pubic bones that becomes covered with hair at puberty.
Opening of the urethra: The tube that allows urine (pee) to exit your body.
Perineum: The patch of skin between your vagina and anus (butthole).

Vulvar cancer usually develops slowly over several years. Precancerous areas of tissue (lesions) typically develop first. Healthcare providers usually discover the abnormal growth in the outermost layer of your skin. These precancerous lesions are called vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN).

Types of vulvar cancer

Healthcare providers classify vulvar cancer based on the type of cells where the cancer starts. The most common types of vulvar cancer include:

Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma: Approximately 90% of vulvar cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. They develop in the cells on the surface of your skin.
Vulvar melanoma: Approximately 5% of vulvar cancers are melanomas. Melanomas develop rapidly and have a high risk of spreading to other areas of your body.

The remaining vulvar cancers are rare. They include:

Basal cell carcinoma.
Bartholin gland adenocarcinoma.
Paget disease of the vulva.
Sarcoma.
Verrucous carcinoma.

How common is vulvar cancer?

Vulvar cancer is rare. Healthcare providers diagnose just under 6,500 new cases of vulvar cancer in the U.S. each year.

Nearly 80% of people diagnosed are over age 50, and over half of all diagnoses are in people over age 70. The average age at diagnosis is 68.

Symptoms

When to see a doctor

Request an appointment

Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.

The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:

High blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Heart failure.
Some types of heart valve disease.

Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:

Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Don't smoke or use tobacco.
Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Reduce and manage stress.

By Freedmans Health Clinic Staff

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