![]() Women who have had cervical cancer or vaginal cancer have an increased risk of developing vulvar cancer. In a small number of women, they may develop into vulvar cancer after many years. If not treated, these conditions can cause permanent scarring and narrow the vaginal opening. Vulvar lichen planus and vulvar lichen sclerosus are skin conditions that can cause itching and soreness. If a woman has had any abnormal cell changes detected on a cervical screening test, she has a slightly higher risk of developing vulvar cancer. Talk to your doctor about whether the HPV vaccination may be of benefit to you. Studies have shown that HPV vaccination can reduce the risk of developing abnormal cell changes that may lead to cancer, even in older women. HPV has been linked to a number of cancers, including vulvar, vaginal, cervical, anal and oral cancers. Although HPV is sexually transmitted, vulvar cancer itself is not contagious and it can't be passed on to other people through sexual contact. HPV is a common virus and most women with HPV don't develop vulvar or any other type of cancer. It can be many years between the initial infection with HPV and the first signs of VIN or vulvar cancer. Human papillomavirus (HPV)Īlso known as the wart virus, HPV is a sexually transmitted infection that can cause women to develop VIN. The condition sometimes becomes cancerous - about one in three women diagnosed with vulvar cancer also has VIN. VIN may disappear on its own, but most women with VIN need some treatment. This precancerous condition causes changes in the skin of the vulva. The exact cause of vulvar cancer is unknown, but factors that increase the risk of developing it include: Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) This is likely to be due to rising rates of infection with HPV (see below). 3 Although it most commonly affects women who have gone through menopause, diagnoses of vulvar cancer in women under 60 have increased in recent years. Vulvar cancer is not common - each year in Australia, about 340 women are diagnosed with vulvar cancer. ![]() However, if you feel any pain in your genital area or notice any of these symptoms, visit your general practitioner (GP) for a check-up. The vulva can be difficult to see without a mirror, and some women feel uncomfortable examining their genitals. Many women don't look at their vulva, so they don't know what is normal for them. hard or swollen lymph nodes in the groin area.blood, pus or other discharge coming from an area of skin or a sore spot in the vulva, which may have an offensive or unusual smell or colour (not related to your menstrual period).a mole on the vulva that changes shape or colour.thickened, raised skin patches (may be red, white or dark brown).a lump, sore, swelling or wart-like growth on the vulva.itching, burning and soreness or pain in the vulva. ![]() Women with early vulvar cancer may have few obvious symptoms, but most women are diagnosed after a long history of vulvar symptoms. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)Īlthough the most common form of skin cancer, BCC is a very rare type of vulvar cancer that starts in tall (basal) cells in the skin's lower layer. It includes extramammary Paget's disease, which looks like eczema. AdenocarcinomaĪ rare type that develops from the mucusproducing (glandular) cells in the Bartholin glands or other vulvar glands. It tends to grow faster than other types. SarcomaĪ rare type that starts in cells in muscle, fat and other tissue under the skin. Mucosal melanomas are not related to overexposure to UV radiation. It starts in the cells that give the skin its colour (melanocytes), also found in the moist lining of the vulva. Also includes verrucous carcinoma, a rare subtype, that looks like a large wart and grows slowly. The two main subtypes are keratinising vulvar carcinomas (not linked to HPV) and warty/ basaloid (linked to HPV). It starts in the thin, flat (squamous) cells lining the vulva. The most common type, accounting for about 9 out of 10 (90%) cases. The types of vulvar cancer are named after the cells they start in: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) Less often, it involves the clitoris, mons pubis or Bartholin glands. It most commonly develops in the labia majora, labia minora and the perineum. Vulvar cancer can start in any part of the external female sex organs (genitals). See information about managing treatment side effects. This section discusses symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment of vulvar cancer (also known as vulval cancer or cancer of the vulva).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |