What will happen when vulvar cancer becomes severe?

Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
Updated on September 11, 2024
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Vulvar cancer is a malignant tumor of the female reproductive system. When vulvar cancer becomes severe, the lesions metastasize to many areas, which can cause serious clinical symptoms, severely affect the patient's quality of life, and even endanger the patient's life. For example, if vulvar cancer metastasizes to the inguinal lymph nodes, pain can occur in the area of the metastases. Additionally, mobility of the limb on the side of the metastases is limited, and swelling of the lower limb occurs. If the patient's lesions metastasize to the lungs through the hematogenous route, clinically the patient may experience coughing, expectoration, chest tightness, chest pain, and even some patients may have respiratory failure, which severely threatens their life. Some patients have bone metastases, and besides pain in the area of the bone metastases, some patients also experience pathological fractures, limited mobility, and significant pain.

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
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Vulvar cancer lymph node metastasis is stage III.

Vulvar cancer is a type of malignant tumor in the female reproductive system, commonly occurring in postmenopausal elderly women. The disease progresses to involve lymph node metastasis, and its clinical staging is either stage III or stage IV. If the disease spreads to the inguinal lymph nodes with no other site affected, then the clinical stage is considered stage III. If the vulvar cancer metastasizes to the pelvic lymph nodes, or distant locations such as the liver, lungs, or bones, then it is classified as stage IV. For cases of stage III and IV vulvar cancer, the main treatment methods are palliative surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. The treatment strategy primarily involves a combination of surgery and radiation therapy along with chemotherapy. For patients with stage III and IV vulvar cancer, the prognosis is generally poor.

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
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Can vulvar cancer be detected through an HPV test?

Vulvar cancer cannot be detected through an HPV test, as the HPV test is a virological examination specifically designed to determine the presence of the human papillomavirus infection, but it cannot confirm the existence of vulvar cancer. Clinically, examinations for vulvar cancer primarily include a detailed physical examination to ascertain the presence of lumps, ulcers, or lesions on the vulva. Additionally, vulvar ultrasound, CT, or MRI can be performed to understand the extent of vulvar cancer invasion. A pathological examination of vulvar cancer can also be conducted to diagnose the disease.

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Written by Sun Ming Yue
Medical Oncology
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How long does it take for vulvar cancer to progress from early to late stage?

If you have vulvar cancer, and want to know how long it takes to progress from early to late stage, it varies from person to person and cannot precisely be determined. Each individual's constitution is different, so the progression of the disease varies. It is recommended that patients seek medical treatment as soon as they discover they have vulvar cancer, to try to control the growth of the tumor, prevent it from spreading, enhance immune system, and improve physique, thereby aiming to extend survival.

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
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Is the vulvar cancer nodule soft or hard?

Vulvar cancer clinically forms nodular lesions that are generally hard in texture with poor mobility and tend to adhere to surrounding tissues, and have indistinct borders. Due to the rapid growth of the nodules, their shape is usually irregular, easily forming granulomatous or cauliflower-like appearances, and they are prone to contact bleeding. Patients with vulvar cancer typically have nodular lesions that are likely to invade surrounding tissues or metastasize to lymph nodes. The chances of distant metastasis to the lungs, liver, bones, or brain are relatively lower. Clinically, it is common to see enlarged inguinal lymph nodes and pain caused by metastatic foci. Some patients may also experience local skin metastasis, subcutaneous nodules, or skin itching as clinical manifestations. For the treatment of vulvar cancer, radical surgery is primarily recommended, with radiation therapy and chemotherapy also being effective options.

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Written by Li Li Jie
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Is vulvar leukoplakia cancer?

First, vulvar lichen sclerosus is not cancerous. Vulvar lichen sclerosus is a general term that can be divided into many types, and the cause of the disease is unknown. The main symptoms include itching, atrophy, and whitening of the vulva. Because of vulvar itching, long-term scratching can lead to local skin thickening, cracking, and a certain risk of cell degeneration and malignancy. When vulvar lichen sclerosus occurs, patients need to visit a hospital for a colposcopy to rule out precancerous lesions. The usual treatment focuses on symptomatic relief, primarily to alleviate itching. If the itching is severe or if the treatment with medication is ineffective, photodynamic therapy can be used, which also has good effects.