Vulvar cancer is a type of skin cancer. It’s not much different than the basal skin carcinoma, skin cancers, you see on areas of your sun-exposed skin. However, vulvar cancer is not caused by sun damage. It is a rare disease that develops slowly over a period of years when a woman’s body creates malignant cells in the vulvar tissue.
The vulva includes a woman’s external genetalia. This includes the labia, the folds of skin outside the vagina, clitoris, vagina and perineum, the skin between the vagina and anus.
The National Cancer Institute estimates an increase in cases over prior years. Their estimation is approximately 3,490 cases in 2007 with 880 associated deaths. Fifteen percent of these cases will strike women under 40 years of age. The majority of cases affect women aged 50 and over.
There’s not one specific risk factor that causes vulvar cancer. Having many sexual partners increases a woman’s possibility of vulvar cancer. The earlier the age at which a woman begins having sexual activity impacts her chances of human pappelomavirus (HPV) infection. HPV is a virus that can cause abnormal tissue growth, changing the make up of cells. Infection with certain types of high-risk strains of HPV increases the risk of developing cervical and vulva cancer.
There are no single signs or symptoms of vulvar cancer. It can be a lump, a dry scaly patch of discolored skin or bleeding not related to menstruation. Having these symptoms can result from other causes than vulvar cancer. The majority of cases diagnosed are in women with no symptoms.
Consult your physician if you have concerns or questions. A biopsy may be needed to determine if the cells are malignant. Treatment options vary depending on the stage the cancer is in when detected. As with any disease, the sooner the condition is discovered the more successful the treatment possibilities can be.
