Vulvar Cancer Prevention
Understanding vulvar cancer — including how the disease develops and who’s most at risk — can help guide cancer prevention strategies.
Preventing Vulvar Cancer
Vulvar cancer is one of the rarest of all gynecologic cancers, with about 6,500 new cases diagnosed each year in the United States. More than half of people diagnosed are 70 or older.
There are no standardized guidelines for screening for vulvar cancer, but HPV vaccination can help reduce the risk of HPV-associated vulvar cancer.
Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is a common sexually transmitted infection strongly associated with cancers such as cervical, vaginal and vulvar. The HPV vaccine is a well-established and medically proven method for lowering the risk of getting these cancers.
Healthcare experts also recommend scheduling annual wellness exams with your gynecologist. If you notice any new lesions or masses in the vulva or have itchiness, pain or bleeding of the vulva, schedule an appointment with your gynecologist because you may need further testing, such as a biopsy.
Understanding Vulvar Cancer
Vulvar cancer forms in the tissue of the vulva or the female external sex organs, including the labia minor (inner lips), labia majora (outer lips) and the clitoris. The cancer can develop slowly over several years, with precancerous lesions known as vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) appearing first on the outermost layers of skin.
There are several types of vulvar cancers. Squamous cell carcinoma accounts for 90% of vulvar cancer cases, while more rarely seen types include basal cell carcinoma, melanoma, sarcoma, adenocarcinoma (Bartholin's gland carcinoma) and Paget’s disease.
What Causes Vulvar Cancer?
Researchers have determined two common pathways to the development of vulvar cancer: One is linked to HPV infection, while the other is associated with chronic inflammation or autoimmune processes.