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CANCER CARE SERVICES

Diagnosis & Treatment

Vulvar Cancer

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How is Vulvar Cancer Diagnosed?

Diagnosis

To diagnose vulvar cancer, your doctor will perform a physical exam along with additional tests and procedures.

Doctors can determine early-stage vulvar cancer with the following methods:

  • Pelvic exam: Your doctor will check the vulva for lumps, rashes, or other abnormalities
  • Colposcopy exam: Your doctor will examine your vulva using a device that acts as a magnifying glass for a closer look at any suspicious tissue in the area
  • Biopsy: If a lump or abnormal tissue is found, your doctor can administer local anesthesia to the area and remove a sample of the tissue, typically with a scalpel or another specialized tool. The sample is then submitted to a lab for evaluation.

If you receive a vulvar cancer prognosis, additional staging tests may be required. Staging tests are used to determine the cancer's size and if it has spread to any other areas of the body.

Staging tests for vulvar cancer can include:

  • Pelvic floor exam: During this exam, your doctor will check for evidence that the cancer has spread from the original site
  • X-rays, CT scans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRIs): These imaging tests can reveal if any cancer has spread beyond the vulvar area

Based on the staging test results, your doctor will assign a cancer stage classification (I-IV) that will inform the next steps of your treatment plan.

How is Vulvar Cancer Treated?

Treatment

Vulvar cancer treatment options can include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy or a combination of these options. Treatment plans for all types of gynecologic cancer are specific to the individual—your doctor will consider age, health status, and personal comfort levels while planning for your care.

Vulvar cancer surgery

The type of vulvar cancer surgery will depend on the stage of cancer and other medical factors. The goal at NewYork-Presbyterian is for your surgery to be as minimally invasive as possible—maintaining the overall appearance of the affected site and your quality of life.

Types of surgery for vulvar cancer include:

  • Laser Surgery: Precancerous cells on the surface of the vulva may be removed with a special laser to vaporize the abnormal cells
  • Local excision: The tumor and some surrounding tissue is removed, leaving the vulva intact
  • Vulvectomy: If a tumor has expanded deeper into the vulva, part or all of the vulva may be removed
  • Ultrasound surgical aspiration: The tumor is broken into tiny pieces using fine sound vibrations, then washed and suctioned away. This procedure used to treat vulvar cancer causes less damage to nearby healthy tissue.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses powerful drugs to attack cancerous cells in the body. It is generally given in pill form or through an IV drip. Chemotherapy is often performed alongside radiation treatments to combat more advanced stages of vulvar cancer.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy utilizes high-powered beams of energy to target and destroy cancer. Radiation therapy for vulvar cancer is typically administered by an external machine and can be used to shrink the tumor size to make it easier to surgically remove.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy harnesses a patient’s immune system to attack cancer. Substances created in a lab or within the body can help boost the immune system and destroy cancer cells within the patient’s body.

FAQs

FAQs

Vulvar cancer is pretty rare, accounting for only 0.6% of all cancers that can develop in women.

Vulvar cancer can manifest as a bump or wart-like lump. It can be white, red, or pink in color in the vulvar area.

Vulvar cancer can spread from the initial site to other areas of the vulva and nearby pelvic lymph nodes. Later stages of the condition can spread into the abdomen, bloodstream, and other parts of the body.

Most vulvar cancers have a slow growth rate and can be successfully treated if caught early. Vulvar melanomas tend to spread more quickly.

Get Care

Trust NewYork-Presbyterian for Vulvar Cancer Treatment

NewYork-Presbyterian is home to nationally-recognized cancer treatment centers. Our multidisciplinary teams of gynecologic oncologists and pathologists are experts in identifying the signs and symptoms of vulvar cancer. Our caring surgeons, nurses, and radiologists are well-versed in treating all types of gynecological cancers, including vulvar, ovarian, cervical, vaginal, and uterine.