Late-stage vulvar cancer can spread to where?

Written by Sun Ming Yue
Medical Oncology
Updated on September 16, 2024
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Patients with vulvar cancer generally have lymphatic metastasis because there are many lymphatic vessels in the perineum, and the capillaries of the lymphatic system are interconnected. Thus, vulvar cancer can lead to bilateral lymphatic vessel spread. Initially, it leads to superficial inguinal lymph nodes, then it spreads to the bone lymph nodes below the groin, and eventually progresses to the lymph nodes alongside the aorta and the lymph nodes below the left clavicle. If the cancer is located in the clitoris, it may bypass the superficial inguinal lymph nodes and directly spread to the lymph nodes inside the pelvis. The tumor in the vulvar area will gradually increase in size; it generally does not invade the muscle fascia or adjacent structures. If the vagina is invaded, it can easily and immediately involve the levator ani muscles, rectum, urethral opening, and bladder, among others.

Other Voices

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
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Is conservative treatment or surgery better for vulvar cancer?

Vulvar cancer is a malignant tumor in female gynecology. There are various treatment options for patients with vulvar cancer. The choice between surgical treatment and conservative treatment depends on multiple factors such as the patient's clinical stage and physical condition. For patients with early-stage vulvar cancer, radical surgical excision is the best treatment method. However, some patients with poor physical condition may not tolerate surgery and may instead receive curative radiotherapy or systemic chemotherapy as an alternative treatment. For patients with mid-to-late stage vulvar cancer, the best treatment method is comprehensive internal medicine treatments, such as chemotherapy and targeted therapy. For patients with advanced vulvar cancer who have a poor physical condition and cannot tolerate chemotherapy or other antitumor treatments, the best treatment method is conservative treatment aimed at maintaining stable vital signs.

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
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Will the vulvar cancer be rotten in the late stage?

Patients with advanced vulvar cancer do not all show signs of internal ulceration. This is because, for most patients with vulvar cancer, the progression of the disease can lead to invasion of the surrounding tissues or distant metastasis. Some patients may experience heavy local infiltration, leading to tissue ulceration. However, most patients in the advanced stages primarily show symptoms related to lymphatic and hematogenous metastasis. When patients with advanced vulvar cancer develop lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis, they may experience symptoms of metastatic lesions, such as inguinal lymph node metastasis causing limb swelling and pain. If there are distant metastases to the lungs, liver, or other areas, patients may exhibit respiratory symptoms such as coughing and expectoration, or liver-related symptoms such as pain in the liver area or decreased appetite.

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
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Does vulvar cancer spread quickly if not treated with chemotherapy?

Vulvar cancer is a type of malignant tumor in women. For patients in the early stages of vulvar cancer, chemotherapy is generally not required after radical surgery. Even without chemotherapy, the disease progression of early-stage vulvar cancer is relatively slow, and many patients can achieve clinical cure after the radical surgery. However, for patients with mid-to-late stage vulvar cancer, postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy is generally required after the radical surgery to reduce the chances of disease recurrence and metastasis. Without postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, the disease can spread quickly, and many patients soon experience the spread of the disease, eventually leading to multi-organ failure and death. Therefore, it is essential for patients who need adjuvant chemotherapy to complete the supplementary treatment regularly and on time after surgery.

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Written by Sun Ming Yue
Medical Oncology
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Can vulvar cancer be cured by radiotherapy?

Vulvar cancer is a relatively malignant tumor. If a patient is diagnosed with vulvar cancer, they should first undergo a medical examination to check if the cancer has metastasized distantly. If the condition is just localized inflammation, it is recommended that the patient undergo surgical treatment followed by radiotherapy, as this is a very serious condition. Surgery itself can cause harm to the patient’s body, but due to the severity of the condition, it is necessary to focus on the main conflict and take corresponding rescue measures. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy can only play a certain supplementary and auxiliary role after surgery, potentially reducing the size of some tumors to a certain extent, minimizing surgical trauma and postoperative recurrence. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are also effective for patients who are unable to undergo surgery or who cannot receive surgical treatment. If diagnosed with vulvar cancer, it is advised to visit a standard hospital for examination and follow the doctor’s guidance for appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
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Is vulvar cancer stage III considered advanced?

Vulvar cancer is a type of malignant tumor in women's gynecology, which has a relatively low clinical incidence rate. For stage III vulvar cancer, it is considered advanced vulvar cancer. Advanced vulvar cancer indicates that the lesion has spread. For vulvar cancer with lesion spread, surgical treatment should be pursued if possible. For patients who cannot undergo surgery, options like chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and other comprehensive combined treatment methods can be considered for cancer treatment. However, for patients with advanced vulvar cancer, the aim of treatment is mainly to improve the quality of life and extend the survival time, as complete clinical cure of the tumor is not possible. Only early-stage vulvar cancer, after receiving curative surgery or curative radiotherapy, may achieve a clinically cured effect.