Cancer is one of the non-communicable diseases whose number of sufferers has increased. A woman's risk for vulvar cancer continues to increase with age. White women are most likely to be diagnosed with this disease. the cancer.net site says about 6,020 women in the United States will be diagnosed with vulvar cancer. Vulvar cancer makes up about 4% of cancers diagnosed in the female reproductive organs and 1,150 deaths from vulvar cancer will occur this year.
It is important to remember that statistics about survival rates for women with vulvar cancer are estimates. Estimates come from annual data based on the number of women with this cancer in the United States. Also, experts measure survival statistics every 5 years. So this estimate may not indicate a better diagnosis or treatment available for less than 5 years. Women should talk to their doctors if they have questions about this information. Learn more about understanding statistics.
Usually, vulvar cancer occurs in older women who have experienced menopause. The age group most often affected is the age of 65-75 years. This cancer is rare in women under the age of 45 years. Vulvar cancer that occurs at a young age is generally caused by infection with HPV subtypes 16 and 18.
Handling of vulvar cancer is carried out by an obstetrician (with or without an oncology consultant degree). After the diagnosis is made and the stage of the cancer is determined, the doctor will determine treatment options. The treatment chosen depends on the age and health condition of the patient. In general, there are three types of treatment for people with vulvar cancer, namely:
Surgery
Surgery is the main therapy in vulvar cancer. Surgery performed can lift partially (partial vulvectomy) or the entire vulva (simplex vulvectomy). If the cancer is only confined to the skin, skinning vulvectomy can be performed, which is the removal of the upper layers of the vulvar skin affected by cancer. Generally, the part that is removed in the surgical process is cancerous tissue along with healthy tissue around it. If there has been spread to the lymph nodes, removal is carried out to the lymph nodes (radical vulvectomy). Internal organs, such as the large intestine, bladder, etc., can be removed if the spread of cancer is found in these organs.
This surgical procedure will certainly leave the surgical wound so that reconstruction surgery is needed. Reconstructive surgery aims to allow the patient to have an artificial vulva or vagina by grafting the skin from other body parts. This reconstructive surgery is performed by a plastic surgeon. After surgery, the patient will lose the ability to feel in the pubic area and cannot reach orgasm when having sex.
Radiotherapy
This therapy uses high-energy rays, for example X-rays. These rays are directed to certain body parts to kill cancer cells and reduce tumor size.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy drugs are available in the form of oral medications, blood vessel injections, or ointments for early-stage vulvar cancer.