Vulvar Cancer Appearance and Risk Factors

Today vulvar cancer is a very uncommon malignancy which is responsible for at least 5% of the gynecologic neoplasms. The incidence of this disease is increasing. This type of cancer is mainly found in women after they have crossed the age of 50. The normal incidences are heightened in between the ages of 65 to 70.

There are studies that show that there is a connection between genital warts and vulvar cancer,  smoking and pap smear. There is a virus called the human pappillomavrius or the HPV which is seen in the molecular analysis of the vulvar neoplasias. These studies reveal that there is a connection between vulvar cancer and the papillomavirus. It is seen that vulvar cancer is preceded by vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia.

But there is a condition called lichen sclerosis which is not malignant though. There are squamous epithelial cells that are normally located in the areas near the vulvar cancer affected areas.

Appearance

Vulvar cancer has varied appearances. It totally depends on the stage the vulvar cancer is in. It also affects the appearance of the cancer. Vulvar cancer is normally mixed up with HPV so if you visit the primary care provider first then you would totally be sure where you stand as regards the cancer. This is the first step to detect the possibility of vulvar cancer  – to visit a primary care provider.

Risk Factors

Any disease has its own risk factors. A risk factor is that which increases the person’s capacity of developing cancer. There are many risk factors which affect the cancer growth, most do not change the stage of cancer.

Some people who are exposed to basic risk factors of cancer, yet do not contract the disease. But there are cases where the most unknowing person becomes a cancer victim.

Yet there are some basic risk factors for cancer and they are :

Age : This is of major importance as it is seen that women with age above 50 years stand a greater chance of developing vulvar cancer than those who are younger. But there is a certain percentage of statistics where around 15% of younger women have developed cancer. But it is seen that generally this happens with those young women who are connected to HPV infection or smoking or those with lichen sclerosus and if they have it in the genes.

HPV infection : this is another risk factor which is important to understand. There are researches which have shown that this infection is a great risk factor for vulvar cancer. This is the most commonly passed infection from person to person during sexual intercourse. HPV has different patterns of strains, where around one third to two third are linked to vulvar cancer. Many types of cancer caused by this virus is linked to the precancerous conditions like changes in the cell pattern. But it is not that every change in a cell would lead to cancer.

Immune deficiency system : This happens to those women who have a low immune system. These women stand a greater risk of developing vulvar cancer. A low immunity level is caused by certain corticosteroid medications, treatment for other immune deficiency diseases like AIDS, organ transplants etc. When a woman has a low immune system, chances of her contracting the HPV virus is common.

Lichen Sclerorus : This is another condition that normally affects the skin of the vulva. This makes the area very itchy and thin. More than 4% of the women with lichen sclerosus develop vulvar cancer.

If a woman has a precancerous condition of the cervix, vulva, vagina or melanoma or anywhere in the body then she is at risk of getting vulvar cancer.

Appearance of vulvar cancer and related risk factors are to be known to have a better understanding of the ailment.

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