Vulvar cancer is a rare type of cancer. It forms in a woman's external genitals, called the vulva. The cancer usually develops slowly over several years. First, precancerous cells grow on vulvar skin. This is called vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN), or dysplasia. Not all VIN cases turn into cancer, but it is best to treat it early.
Often, vulvar cancer doesn't cause early symptoms. However, see your doctor for testing if you notice
- A lump in the vulva
- Vulvar itching or tenderness
- Bleeding that is not your period
Being older and having a human papillomavirus infection are risk factors for vulvar cancer. Treatment varies, depending on your overall health and how advanced the cancer is. It might include laser therapy, surgery, radiation or chemotherapy.
National Cancer Institute
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Vulvar Cancer(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/cancer/types/753.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/cancer/types/753.printerview.html
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Vulvar Cancer (PDQ): Treatment(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/vulvar/patient/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/pdq/tratamiento/vulva/patient/
- What Is Vulvar Cancer?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_1x_what_is_vulvar_cancer_45.asp
- FDA Approves Expanded Uses for Gardasil to Include Preventing Certain Vulvar and Vaginal Cancers(09/12/2008, Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01885.html
- Can Vulvar Cancer Be Found Early?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_3x_can_vulvar_cancer_be_found_early_45.asp
- How Is Vulvar Cancer Diagnosed?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_3x_how_is_vulvar_cancer_diagnosed.asp
- How Is Vulvar Cancer Staged?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_3x_how_is_vulvar_cancer_staged.asp
- Treatment of Vulvar Adenocarcinoma(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_4x_treatment_of_vulvar_adenocarcinoma_45.asp
- Treatment of Vulvar Melanoma(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_4x_treatment_of_vulvar_melanoma_45.asp
- Treatment Options for Squamous Cell Vulvar Cancer by Stage(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_4x_treatment_options_for_squamous_cell_vulvar_cancer_by_stage_45.asp
- Vulvar Cancer Surgery(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Surgery_45.asp
- Can Vulvar Cancer Be Prevented?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_2x_can_vulvar_cancer_be_prevented_45.asp
- Do What You Can to Ease Side Effects of Treatment of Vulvar Cancer(Women's Cancer Network) - http://www.wcn.org/interior.cfm?pagetype=detail&diseaseid=12&contentid=10225&featureid=1&ContentTypeID=4
- Vulvar Cancer: What Happens After Treatment?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_5x_What_happens_after_treatment_45.asp
- Types of Vulvar Cancer(Women's Cancer Network) - http://www.wcn.org/interior.cfm?pagetype=detail&diseaseid=12&contentid=10696&featureid=1&ContentTypeID=1
- What to Know about Precancerous Vulvar Changes(Women's Cancer Network) - http://www.wcn.org/interior.cfm?pagetype=detail&diseaseid=12&contentid=10217&featureid=1&ContentTypeID=1
- Cancer Treatment for Women: Possible Sexual Side Effects(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/cancer-treatment/SA00071/METHOD=print
- Professional Help: Sexuality and Cancer(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/mit/content/mit_7_2x_where_to_seek_professional_help_women.asp
- What Are the Risk Factors for Vulvar Cancer?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_2x_what_are_the_risk_factors_for_vulvar_cancer_45.asp
- What Should You Ask Your Doctor about Vulvar Cancer?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_5x_what_should_you_ask_your_physician_about_vulvar_cancer.asp
- Vulvar Anatomy(National Vulvodynia Association) - http://www.nva.org/about_vulvodynia/vulvar_anatomy.html
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Vulvar Neoplasms(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Vulvar+Neoplasms%22
- Do We Know What Causes Vulvar Cancer?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_2x_do_we_know_what_causes_vulvar_cancer.asp
- Imiquimod May Help to Prevent Vulvar Cancer(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/VIN-imiquimod0408
- Sentinel Node Dissection Safe in the Treatment of Early Vulvar Cancer(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/vulvar-SNB0308
- What's New in Vulvar Cancer Research and Treatment?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_6x_whats_new_in_vulvar_cancer_research_and_treatment.asp
- Article: Lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy in gynecological cancers: a... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18492253&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: A randomized phase III trial of VH fibrin sealant to... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18482765&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: The economic burden of noncervical human papillomavirus disease in the... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18455524&tool=MedlinePlus
- Vulvar Cancer -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=vulvar+neoplasms[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Dictionary of Cancer Terms(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary/
- ACOG's Physician Directory(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - http://www.acog.org/member-lookup/disclaimer.cfm
- Find a Gynecologic Oncologist(Society of Gynecologic Oncologists, Women's Cancer Network) - http://www.wcn.org/interior.cfm?diseaseid=13&featureid=4
- American Cancer Society - http://www.cancer.org/
- National Cancer Institute - http://www.cancer.gov/
- What Are the Key Statistics about Vulvar Cancer?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_1x_what_are_the_key_statistics_for_vulvar_cancer_45.asp
- Vaginal Cancer - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/vaginalcancer.html
- Vaginal Diseases - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/vaginaldiseases.html
- Vulvar Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/vulvardisorders.html
- Cancers - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cancers.html
- Female Reproductive System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/femalereproductivesystem.html
- Women - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/women.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Vulvar Cancer is the National Cancer Institute - http://www.nci.nih.gov/