overview
Cancer of the vulva
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Vulvar cancer is a type of cancer that occurs on the outer surface of the female genitals. The vulva is the area of skin that surrounds the urethra and vagina, including the clitoris and labia.
- Vulvar cancer usually forms as a lump or sore on the vulva that is often itchy. Although it can occur at any age, vulvar cancer is most commonly diagnosed in the elderly.
- Treatment for vulvar cancer usually involves surgery to remove the cancer and a small amount of the surrounding healthy tissue. Sometimes vulvar cancer surgery requires removal of the entire vulva. The earlier vulvar cancer is diagnosed, the less likely it is that extensive surgery will be required for treatment.Vulvar cancer Treatment Hyderabad
symptom
The signs and symptoms of vulvar cancer can include:
- Itching that doesn’t go away
- Pain and tenderness
- Bleeding that is not related to menstruation
- Changes in the skin such as changes in color or thickening
- A lump, wart-like bump, or an open sore (ulcer)
The reasons
It is not known what causes vulvar cancer.
Doctors usually know that cancer begins when a cell makes changes (mutations) in its DNA. DNA contains the instructions that tell a cell what to do. Mutations tell the cell to grow and divide quickly. The cell and its offspring continue to live while other normal cells die. The cells that accumulate form a tumor, which can be cancerous, invades nearby tissue and spreads to other parts of the body.
Risk factors
Although the exact cause of vulvar cancer is unknown, certain factors appear to increase your risk of developing the disease, including:
- Increased age. The risk of vulvar cancer increases with age, although it can occur at any age. The average age at diagnosis is 65 years.
- Exposure to the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a sexually transmitted infection that increases the risk of several types of cancer, including cancer of the vulva and cancer of the cervix. Many young and sexually active people are exposed to HPV, but most of the infection goes away on its own. For some, the infection causes cellular changes and increases the risk of cancer in the future.
- Smoke. Smoking increases the risk of vulvar cancer.Vulvar cancer Treatment Hyderabad
prevention
Reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections
To lower your risk of developing vulvar cancer, lower your risk of sexually transmitted HPV infections:
- Use a condom every time you have sex. Condoms can lower your risk of developing HPV, but they cannot completely protect you from it.
- Get vaccinated against HPV. Children and young adults should consider the HPV vaccine, which protects against strains of the virus that are believed to cause most cases of vulvar cancer.Vulvar cancer Treatment Hyderabad