Types of vulval cancer

Vulval cancer can occur on any part of the external female sex organs. The inner edges of the labia majora and the labia minora are the most common areas for it to develop. Less often, vulval cancer may also involve the clitoris and the Bartholin glands. The Bartholin glands produce mucus that lubricates the vagina. They are small glands that are located on each side of the vagina. Vulval cancer can also sometimes affect the perineum.

Squamous cell carcinoma Back to top

9 out of 10 vulval cancers (90%) develop in the skin of the vulva from cells called squamous cells. This type of vulval cancer usually takes many years to develop. It usually starts with pre-cancerous changes to vulval cells, which slowly develop over several years into cancerous cells.

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 it’s much less common than the squamous cell type. Only about 4 out of every 100 vulval cancers (4%) are melanoma|. Vulval melanoma usually looks like a dark patch on the vulva.

Verrucous carcinoma Back to top

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

Adenocarcinoma Back to top

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

Basal cell carcinoma Back to top

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

Sarcoma 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.