Cancer of the Vulva - General Information
Contents:
The term vulva refers to the external sexual organs in a woman. It is
made up of two pairs of lips called labia, between which are two openings.
The largest of these is the entry to the vagina
(introitus) which is the passage between the uterus
(womb) and the outside world. The smaller opening is the urethra,
which is the outlet from the bladder
through which urine
is passed.
Cancer of the vulva relates to cancers in the skin covering the vulva.
It is an uncommon cancer, with less than 100 cases reported each year in
Queensland. Most of these cases are in women over 50 years of age, with
the most common occurrence in the 70-79 year age group. It does, however,
appear that cancer of the vulva is becoming more common in younger women
between 30 and 50 years of age.
Some common symptoms of cancer of the vulva are:
 | constant itching or changes in the way the vulva looks |
| bleeding or discharge not related to menstruation (periods) |
| burning/itching or pain in the vulva |
| if the skin of the vulva looks white, feels rough or develops a
lump. |
A woman experiencing any of these symptoms should see her doctor.
How Common Are Cancers Of The Vulva?
These cancers are rare and affect 1 in every 555 Australian women in
their lifetime.
Types Of Cancer Of The Vulva
These cancers are usually of the squamous cell type. Clear cell
carcinomas of the vagina have also occurred among some women who were
exposed to diethylstilboestrol (DES) before they were born.
Factors That Increase Risk
Little is known about the causes of these cancers, but they are thought
to share some of the risk factors of cervical cancer, as they can occur
together.:
| Age |
Cancers of the vulva mostly affect older women.
| Sexual Patterns |
Women who have had a high number of sexual partners in their lifetime
are thought to be at greater risk of developing cancer of the vulva than
women with very few or no partners.
| Viral Exposure |
Certain types of a virus known as the human papilloma virus (HPV) have
been associated with vulval cancers. Presence of HPV in cervical tissue
has also been linked to sexual factors.
| Smoking |
There is some evidence that smoking may be linked with vulval cancer.
|
