Chemotherapy for vulval cancer
Chemotherapy is treatment with anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs. This may be used with radiotherapy or by itself to treat vulval cancer.
What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy uses anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells. Cytotoxic means toxic to cells. These drugs affect the way cancer cells grow and divide. But they also affect normal cells.
When chemotherapy is used for vulval cancer
You may have chemotherapy for vulval cancer:
- after surgery to reduce the risk of cancer coming back – this is called adjuvant treatment, and you usually have radiotherapy at the same time (chemoradiation).
- with radiotherapy as your main treatment if surgery is not possible chemoradiation
- to shrink the cancer before surgery or radiotherapy – this is called neo-adjuvant chemotherapy
- if the cancer comes back
- to treat the symptoms of advanced cancer that cannot be cured – this is called palliative treatment.
Chemotherapy drugs used for vulval cancer
The main chemotherapy drugs used to treat vulval cancer are:
Other chemotherapy drugs may sometimes be used. Your cancer doctor or specialist nurse will talk to you about the treatment and drugs you are having.
Side effects
Medicines can usually control side effects of chemotherapy. Most side effects usually go away when treatment ends. But some may be permanent. Not all drugs cause the same side effects, and some people may have very few side effects.
Your cancer doctor, specialist nurse or pharmacist will tell you more about what to expect. Always tell them about any side effects you have. They can give you advice on how to manage them.
Having chemotherapy for vulval cancer
You can usually have chemotherapy as an outpatient. Sometimes you may need to stay in hospital for a few days.
Most drugs are given into a vein (intravenously). But some drugs can be given by mouth as tablets or capsules.
Intravenous chemotherapy is a session of treatment that you have over several hours or days. You then have a rest period of a few weeks. This allows your body to recover from any side effects. The chemotherapy and rest period make up a cycle of treatment.
Your cancer specialist will tell you how many cycles of treatment you will have.
About our information
This information has been written, revised and edited by Macmillan Cancer Support’s Cancer Information Development team. It has been reviewed by expert medical and health professionals and people living with cancer.
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References
Below is a sample of the sources used in our vulval cancer information. If you would like more information about the sources we use, please contact us at informationproductionteam@macmillan.org.uk
Morrison J, Baldwin P, Hanna L, Andreou A, Buckley L, Durrant L, et al. British Gynaecological Cancer Society (BGCS) vulval cancer guidelines: An update on recommendations for practice 2023. European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Reproductive Biology. 2024;292: 210–238. Available from: www.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2023.11.013 [accessed July 2026].
The Royal College of Radiographers. The Royal College of Radiologists expert panel recommendations for radiotherapy treatment for vulval cancer. 2024. Available from: www.rcr.ac.uk/media/l1zjohkm/rcr-vulval-cancer-treatment-recommendations.pdf [accessed July 2026]
Date reviewed
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