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Key takeaways
- Vulval cancer is more common after menopause, but it can happen at any age.
- Common symptoms include itching, lumps, unusual vaginal bleeding and vulval skin changes.
- Talk to your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms. They may not be due to cancer, but it’s important to check.
- As with many cancers, early detection leads to the best treatment outcomes.
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Key takeaways
- Vulval cancer is more common after menopause, but it can happen at any age.
- Common symptoms include itching, lumps, unusual vaginal bleeding and vulval skin changes.
- Talk to your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms. They may not be due to cancer, but it’s important to check.
- As with many cancers, early detection leads to the best treatment outcomes.
What is vulval cancer?
Vulval cancer can affect any part of the vulva. It’s more common after menopause, but younger women can also get vulval cancer.
The most common area for this type of cancer to develop is:
- the inner lips (labia minora)
- the outer lips (labia majora)
- the area between the vagina and anus (perineum)
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)
This is the most common vulval cancer and accounts for 90% of cases. It starts in the thin, flat (squamous) cells that cover the vulva.
Adenocarcinoma
This cancer starts in the mucus-producing (glandular) cells of the vulva.
Vulval (mucosal) melanoma
This is a rare form of vulval cancer that starts in the cells that give skin its colour (melanocytes). This cancer is not related to UV radiation from the sun.
Sarcoma
This cancer is also rare. It starts in the muscle, fat and other tissue of the vulva.
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)
This is the most common form of skin cancer but a very rare type of vulval cancer. It begins in the basal cells in the lower layer of the skin.
Symptoms of vulval cancer
Many women don’t have any symptoms in the early stages of vulval cancer. But you may notice:
- itching, burning or pain
- tenderness
- a lump or swelling
- an ulcer or a growth that is wart-like
- thickened, raised patches of vulval skin that may be red, white or dark brown
- a mole that changes shape or colour
- bleeding that’s not related to your period
- blood, pus or discharge from a lesion or sore
- hard or swollen lymph glands in the groin.
See your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms. They may be due to other conditions, but it’s important to check.
What causes vulval cancer?
The exact cause of vulval cancer is not known, but it may be associated with:
- human papillomavirus (HPV)
- having a precancerous condition called vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN), where abnormal cells develop in the lining of the vagina
- skin conditions such as lichen planus and lichen sclerosus
- having had cervical cancer or vaginal cancer in the past
- smoking
- having a weakened immune system.
How is vulval cancer diagnosed?
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, medical history and family health history. They’ll also do a pelvic examination to check your vulva, vagina and cervix.
They may take a sample (biopsy) of the abnormal area of your vulva and send it to a pathology lab for testing.
If your results suggest you may have vulval cancer, your doctor will refer you to a gynaecological oncologist straight away.
Your specialist may recommend further procedures and tests to check if the cancer has spread to other parts of your body. For example:
- a colposcopy – to look closely at your vagina, cervix and vulva
- a cystoscopy – a procedure to check your bladder and urethra
- a proctoscopy – a procedure to check inside your rectum
- a chest X-ray
- blood tests
- imaging tests.
Treatments for vulval cancer
Treatment for vulvar cancer depends on the extent of the cancer. It may include:
- surgery
- radiotherapy
- chemotherapy
- palliative treatment.
Medical treatment, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, can cause menopause.
Can you reduce your risk for vulval cancer?
While there isn’t a screening test for vulval cancer, you can lower your risk by:
- not smoking
- having regular cervical screening tests
- getting immunised against HPV.
- You can also do regular self-checks and see your doctor if you notice any changes.
When to see your doctor about vulval cancer
It’s important to see your doctor if you notice any symptoms of vulval cancer. In most cases, early detection and diagnosis lead to good outcomes.
More resources on fallopian tube cancer
For more information about fallopian tube cancer, visit the:
If you would like to speak to a nurse for general information and support, call
Cancer Council on 13 11 20 (9 am to 5pm, Monday to Friday).
More resources on vaginal cancer
For more information about vaginal cancer, visit the:
- Cancer Australia website
- Cancer Council website
If you would like to speak to a nurse for general information and support, call
Cancer Council on 13 11 20 (9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday).
Personal stories about gynaecological cancers
Review process
Our review process
This information has been reviewed by clinical experts and is based on the latest evidence.
Our content review process ensures our health information is accurate, trustworthy, current and useful.
We regularly check our information to make sure it reflects the latest clinical guidelines and key findings from large, reliable studies.
Where possible, we focus on Australian research to make our information more relevant locally.
Experts play a key role in reviewing our content. Clinicians at Jean Hailes check information for accuracy and real‑world relevance. These include GPs, gynaecologists, endocrinologists, psychologists and allied health professionals.
We also work with partner organisations, independent specialists and people with lived experience to make sure our content reflects both expert knowledge and the experiences of the community.
