Vulval cancer
Cancer of the vulva is a rare type of cancer that affects women. Around 1,200 new casesare diagnosed each year in the UK.
The vulva is a woman's external genitals. It includesthe lips surrounding the vagina (labia minora and labia majora), the clitoris (sexual organthat helps women reach sexual climax), and the Bartholin's glands (two small glands each side of the vagina).
Most of those affected by vulval cancer are older women over the age of 65. The condition is rare in women under 50 who have not yet gone through the Testosterone deficiency (hypogonadism) .
Symptoms of vulval cancer can include:
See your GP if you notice any changes in the usual appearance of your vulva. While it's highly unlikely to be the result ofcancer, these changes should be investigated.
Some people may also have radiotherapy (where radiation is used to destroy cancer cells) or chemotherapy (where medication is used to kill cancer cells), or both.
Radiotherapy and chemotherapy may be used without surgery if you're not well enough to have an operation, or ifthe cancer has spread and it isn't possible to remove it all.
The outlook for vulval cancer depends on things such as how far the cancer has spread, your age, and your general health. Generally, the earlier the cancer is detected and the younger you are, the better the chances of treatment being successful.
Overall, around6 in every 10 women diagnosed with vulval cancer will survive at least five years. However, even after successfultreatment, the cancer comes back in up to one in every three cases. You'll need regular follow-up appointments so your doctor can check if this is happening.
It's not thought to be possible to prevent vulval cancer completely, but you may be able to reduce your risk by:
The HPV vaccination may also reduce your chances of developing vulval cancer. This is now offered to all girlswho are 12 to 13 years old as part of their routine childhood immunisation programme.
Vulval cancer is a rare type of cancer that affects women. Read about the symptoms, causes and treatments.
Read about the factors that can increase your risk of developing vulval cancer, including increasing age and HPV infection.
Read about how vulval cancer is diagnosed, including what your GP may do and what tests are carried out by a specialist.
Read about the main treatments for vulval cancer, including surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.