What is Vulvar Cancer?

Vulvar cancer is an uncommon type of cancer that forms in the vulva, the outer part of the female genitals. The vulva consists of the following structures:

  • Vestibule - The vestibule is the opening of the vagina.
  • Labia majora - The labia majora are the larger, outer lips of the vagina.
  • Labia minora - The labia minora are the smaller, hairless, inner lips of the vagina.
  • Bartholin glands - The Bartholin glands are two glands located right inside the opening of the vagina that secrete mucus/fluid to help lubricate the vagina during intercourse.
  • Clitoris - The clitoris is a sensitive structure at the front of the vagina that helps a woman feel sexual stimulation during intercourse.
Vulvar Cancer

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Vulvar cancer often develops very slowly over years. Vulvar cancer often starts as precancerous changes on the vulva (vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN)), that eventually mutate and become invasive cancer. Vulvar cancer most often starts in the labia majora, but may also affect the labia minora, bartholin glands, or clitoris. There are different types of vulvar cancer, depending on the type of cell from which it begins:

  • Squamous cell carcinoma - Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type of vulvar cancer and accounts for about 90% of all cases. Squamous cell carcinomas usually develop on the edges of the labia. Most of the time this type of vulvar cancer takes several years to develop and starts from pre-cancerous changes (VIN).
  • Adenocarcinoma - Adenocarcinoma accounts for about 8% of all cases of vulvar cancer. Adenocarcinomas of the vulva may start in the sweat glands or the Bartholin glands. Some women develop a rare disease called Paget disease of the vulva, where adenocarcinoma cells are found on the upper layer of vulvar skin.
  • Melanoma - Some women may develop melanoma of the vulva. Melanoma starts in pigment-producing skin cells called melanocytes that may be found in the vulva.
  • Sarcoma - In rare cases, some women may develop a sarcoma in the wall of the vulva. Sarcomas start deep in muscles, tendons, blood vessels, nerves, or other connective tissues.