Where is the vulva located?
Woman’s external genitals are often incorrectly referred to as the vagina. This anatomical region is called the vulva. The vagina is the name of the tube-shaped organ where the penis is located during sexual intercourse.
What is vulvar cancer and how does it occur?
Vulvar cancer is a cancer seen especially in older women. On average, it occurs in women between the ages of 65-75. They usually appear as ulcerated, bleeding, itchy lesions that do not go away. They can be black, red or blue in color. Itching is a general symptom. There is no distinct pattern. Therefore, a biopsy should be taken from every colored lesion on the vulva. I recommend that you consult a doctor in the presence of such lesions that do not go away.
In advanced vulvar cancers, the scar that does not go away becomes larger and reaches up to 7-8 cm in size. In advanced cancers, the lymph nodes in the groin swell. After these lymph nodes swell, they ulcerate and bleed.
How is vulvar cancer treated?
The treatment of vulvar cancer is surgical removal of this lesion and the inguinal lymph nodes. The aim is to remove the tumorous tissues deep enough to reach the bony structures and leave a tumor-free area of 1 cm around it. After removal of small tumors, it is possible to close the area with sutures. In large tumors, however, the tissue damage left behind is extensive and it is not possible to close the area with sutures. In these patients, the tissue shifting method called flap is applied.
The inguinal lymph nodes must be removed, including the deeper nodes.
Is postoperative treatment necessary?
The surgery may not have left enough safety space around the tumor. It may not be possible to leave this area for tumors close to the urethra or anus.
If a tumor is found in the lymph nodes taken from the groin and there is not enough safe area around the tumor, the patient should undergo radiotherapy after surgery.
What are the symptoms of vaginal cancer?
vulvar cancer is a very rare tumor. The vagina is usually affected by the spread of cancer of the vulva or cervix. Cancers in the upper part of the vagina, which is a long tube, are treated surgically like cervical cancer, and cancers in the lower part are treated surgically like vulvar cancer. The middle parts should be treated with a laser.