Although all women are at risk for vulvar cancer, this disease is extremely rare. The facts show that only a few women will get vulvar cancer, but you should know and recognize the characteristics of the cancer. If you find any symptoms, the doctor will need to establish a diagnosis of vulvar cancer. Treatment for vulvar cancer is usually successful, depending on the severity of the disease.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Recognizing the Symptoms of Vulvar Cancer
Step 1. Recognize potential symptoms
Vulvar cancer may not show any symptoms in its early stages, but it can show certain signs. Recognizing potential symptoms you are experiencing can help you get a diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.
- Symptoms or signs of vulvar cancer include unusual growths, itching or tenderness and tenderness in the skin of the vulva, and bleeding.
- Pay attention to the health of the vulva from time to time so that you are aware of its normal condition and can identify any abnormalities easily.
Step 2. Be aware of the risk of vulvar cancer
The main cause of vulvar cancer is not known, but doctors can explain certain factors and behaviors that can increase the risk. Being aware of your risk for this disease can help you identify it and get timely diagnosis and treatment.
- The risk of this disease increases with age, with a median age of 65 years at diagnosis of vulvar cancer.
- Exposure to the sexually transmitted disease human papillomavirus, or HPV, can increase the risk of developing vulvar cancer.
- Smokers are at a higher risk of developing vulvar cancer.
- Having HIV can weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to vulvar cancer.
- A history of precancerous or vulvar skin conditions, such as lichen sclerosis, can increase your risk of developing vulvar cancer.
Step 3. Feel for lumps or other irregularities in the vulvar area
Lumps or other abnormal growths may indicate vulvar cancer. Gently feeling the vulvar area with your finger can help identify any abnormal growths.
- Do not feel embarrassed and uncomfortable when touching the vulva. You're not doing anything wrong and this step can help protect your health.
- Gently touch various parts of the vulva to feel for abnormal growths or abnormalities such as lumps or wart-like lesions. Also be sure to feel the inside of the vaginal lips.
- It's a good idea to feel your vulva regularly so you can see if it's normal.
- See a doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of these symptoms.
Step 4. Observe for pain, itching, or bleeding
Watch for any body aches or itching, burning sensations, or prolonged bleeding. These symptoms can indicate the presence of vulvar cancer, especially if it does not go away.
- Be aware of pain that does not go away in the pelvic area, especially when urinating or having sex.
- Look for bleeding that is not related to a menstrual period, which is a sign of vulvar cancer.
- See a doctor as soon as possible if any of these symptoms are seen.
Step 5. Check your genitals
Vulvar cancer forms in the vulva, which is composed of the outside of the vagina including the clitoris, vaginal lips, vaginal opening, and the skin or tissue that surrounds it. Examining the genital area as well as identifying symptoms can help you identify potential spots for vulvar cancer.
- Consider using a mirror to help examine the vulva.
- Get regular vulvar skin exams so you know how it looks under normal conditions and can identify potential problems easily.
- Look for changes in the appearance of the vulvar skin, such as variations in skin color or thickness. Growths that look like warts or ulcers can also indicate vulvar cancer.
- Vulvar cancer generally occurs on the inside of the vaginal lips, which are the two folds of skin on the outside of the female genitalia.
- Also, ask your partner who has been with you for a long time if he notices any changes in your vulva. It can catch the difference faster than you can on your own.
- See a doctor as soon as possible if you find any of these symptoms.
Part 2 of 2: Getting Diagnosis and Treatment
Step 1. Visit a doctor
If you notice any signs or symptoms of vulvar cancer and are at risk of developing the disease, see your doctor as soon as possible. Vulvar cancer is curable, but early diagnosis is very important in order to minimize the duration and severity of treatment.
- Visit a regular/private gynecologist, who has the best ability to diagnose vulvar cancer, if possible. If necessary, he can refer you to a doctor or other specialist.
- The doctor will perform a physical examination to look for signs of vulvar cancer and ask for a medical history, including factors such as health habits and diseases you have suffered in the past.
- One part of the physical examination is to examine the vulva using a special magnifying device.
Step 2. Get tested and diagnosed
If your doctor suspects you have vulvar cancer, he or she will order testing after a physical exam. Such testing is the only way to establish a diagnosis of vulvar cancer.
- The most common test for vulvar cancer is a biopsy. The doctor will take a small amount of vulvar cells or tissue and send it to a laboratory to check for signs of cancer.
- You will need additional testing, if previous testing confirms the diagnosis of vulvar cancer, to determine if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
- Additional types of examination include a pelvic exam, colposcopy, X-ray, CT or MRI scan, and lymph node biopsy.
Step 3. Get treatment
The doctor will prescribe a series of treatments for cases of vulvar cancer diagnosis based on the severity of the disease. There are a variety of different treatment options that can be successfully performed if the diagnosis is established at an early stage of the disease.
- The four standard treatments used to treat vulvar cancer are: surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and biologic therapy.
- Surgery is the most commonly used vulvar cancer treatment procedure and can remove all cancer cells without impairing a woman's sexual function.
- The doctor will recommend treatment based on the seriousness of the vulvar cancer.
- Consider taking a clinical trial, which may give you the opportunity to try one of the newest treatment methods. Stages one and two of vulvar cancer require only surgery, while stages three and four require radical surgery along with chemotherapy and radiation.
Warning
- Don't ignore the symptoms. If cancer cells reach the pelvic lymph nodes, secondary cancer can spread to any part of the body.
- Once exposed, there is no treatment that can cure HPV. Consider getting the HPV vaccine to reduce your risk of getting HPV-related diseases if you are under 30 years of age.
