Carcinoma of Vulva: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
– Vulvar cancer is a cancer that occurs in any part of the external female genitals.
– It most commonly develops in the labia minora, labia majora, and perineum.
– The most common type of vulvar cancer is squamous cell carcinoma, accounting for about 90% of cases in Australia.
– Vulvar melanoma makes up between 2% and 4% of vulvar cancers and begins in the melanocytes.
– Sarcoma is a rare type of vulvar cancer that starts in cells in muscle fat and other tissue under the skin.
– Adenocarcinoma is another rare form that develops from the glandular cells in the vulvar glands.
– Basel cell carcinoma is a very rare type that starts in the basal cells in the skin’s lower layer.
– Vulvar cancer is more common in women who have gone through menopause, but it can also occur in younger women.
– It is estimated that more than 400 people were diagnosed with vulvar cancer in 2023.
– The average age at diagnosis is 69 years old.