Types of vulval cancer

Squamous cell carcinoma Back to top

Nine out of 10 cancers of the vulva (90%) develop in the skin of the vulva from cells called squamous cells. This type of vulval cancer usually takes many years to develop.

Vulval melanoma Back to top

Melanomas develop from the pigment-producing cells that give the skin its colour. Vulval melanoma is the second most common type of vulval cancer, but is much less common than the squamous cell type. Only about 4 out of every 100 vulval cancers (4%) are melanoma| .

Adenocarcinoma Back to top

These are very rare. Adenocarcinoma of the vulva develops from cells that line glands in the vulval skin.

Basal cell carcinoma Back to top

This very rare type of cancer develops from cells called basal cells that are found in the deepest layer of the skin of the vulva. It is generally slow growing and almost never spreads from the vulva.

Verrucous carcinoma Back to top

Verrucous carcinoma is a rare, very slow-growing type of squamous cell carcinoma, which looks like a large wart.

Sarcomas Back to top

Sarcomas of the vulva are extremely rare. Sarcomas develop from cells in tissue such as muscle or fat under the skin. They tend to grow more quickly than other types of vulval cancer.