Treatments for vulvar cancer
If you have vulvar cancer, your healthcare team will create a treatment plan just for you. It will be based on your health and specific information about the cancer. When deciding which treatments to offer for vulvar cancer, your healthcare team will consider:
- stage
- if the cancer has spread to any lymph nodes
- size and location of the tumour
- type of tumour
- your personal preferences and overall health
Treatments for stage 1 vulvar cancer
The following are treatment options for stage 1 vulvar cancer. The types of treatments given are based on the unique needs of the woman with cancer.
Treatments for stage 2 vulvar cancer
The following are treatment options for stage 2 vulvar cancer. The types of treatments given are based on the unique needs of the woman with cancer.
Treatments for stage 3 vulvar cancer
The following are treatment options for stage 3 vulvar cancer. The types of treatments given are based on the unique needs of the woman with cancer.
Treatments for stage 4 vulvar cancer
The following are treatment options for stage 4 vulvar cancer. The types of treatments given are based on the unique needs of the woman with cancer.
Treatments for recurrent vulvar cancer
The following are treatment options for recurrent vulvar cancer. There is no standard treatment for recurrent vulvar cancer. The types of treatments given are based on the unique needs of the woman with cancer.
Surgery for vulvar cancer
Surgery is the primary treatment for vulvar cancer. The type of surgery depends mainly on the size of the tumour and stage of the cancer.
Radiation therapy for vulvar cancer
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays or particles to destroy cancer cells. Radiation may be used for vulvar cancer.
Chemotherapy for vulvar cancer
Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer (cytotoxic) drugs to treat cancer. It is usually a systemic therapy that circulates throughout the body and destroys cancer cells, including those that may have broken away from the primary tumour. Chemotherapy is sometimes used to treat vulvar cancer.
Targeted therapy for vulvar cancer
Targeted therapy uses drugs to target specific molecules on cancer cells. Vulvar cancer is sometimes treated with targeted therapy.
Follow-up after treatment for vulvar cancer
Vulvar cancer behaves differently in each woman, and a standard follow-up schedule would not work for everyone. If you have vulvar cancer, talk to your doctor about a follow-up plan that suits your individual situation. Follow-up for vulvar cancer is often shared among different cancer specialists (oncologists), the surgeon and your family doctor.