Vulvar cancer is a type of cancer that occurs on the outer surface area of the female genitalia. The vulva is the area of skin that surrounds the urethra and vagina, including the clitoris and labia.

Vulvar cancer commonly forms as a lump or sore on the vulva that often causes itching. Though it can occur at any age, vulvar cancer is most commonly diagnosed in older adults.

SYMPTOMS OF VULVAR CANCER

Signs and symptoms of vulvar cancer may include:

• Itching that doesn't go away
• Pain and tenderness
• Bleeding that isn't from menstruation
• Skin changes, such as color changes or thickening
• A lump, wartlike bumps or an open sore (ulcer)

CAUSES OF VULVAR CANCER

It's not clear what causes vulvar cancer.

In general, doctors know that cancer begins when a cell develops changes (mutations) in its DNA. The DNA contains the instructions that tell a cell what to do. The mutations tell the cell to grow and divide rapidly. The cell and its offspring go on living when other normal cells would die. The accumulating cells form a tumor that may be cancerous, invading nearby tissue and spreading to other parts of the body.

Types of vulvar cancer

The type of cell in which vulvar cancer begins helps your doctor plan the most effective treatment. The most common types of vulvar cancer include:

• Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma. This cancer begins in the thin, flat cells that line the surface of the vulva. Most vulvar cancers are squamous cell carcinomas.
• Vulvar melanoma. This cancer begins in the pigment-producing cells found in the skin of the vulva.

Risk factors

Although the exact cause of vulvar cancer isn't known, certain factors appear to increase your risk of the disease, including:

• Increasing age. 
• Being exposed to human papillomavirus (HPV). 
• Having a weakened immune system. 
• Having a history of precancerous conditions of the vulva. 
• Having a skin condition involving the vulva. 

PREVENTION OF VULVAR CANCER

To reduce your risk of vulvar cancer, reduce the risk of the sexually transmitted infection HPV:

• Use a condom every time you have sex. 
• Get the HPV vaccine. 

HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT FOR VULVAR CANCER

AMBRA GESIA—Viginal itching due to hormonal imbalance. -Violent vaginal itching with swelling. Itching with soreness and swelling. Profuse bluish leucorrhea. Itching in labia. Worse at night,. The sexual desire is increased.

CALADIUM—Severe itching of vulva and vagina. Itching leading to masturbation, with burning.

CALCAREA CARBONICUM ---Itching and burning in vagina, worse before and after menses and evening. Itching and pressing in the vagina. Leucorrhea with burning and itching. Milky leucorrhea. Along with this the constitutional symptoms of calcarea carb—Profuse sweat of whole body, especially head, chilly, sensitive to cold, fatty, desire for egg are present.

CONIUM MACULATUM--Severe vaginal itching. Itching deep in vagina. Itching worse after menses. Shooting pain in vagina and a sensation as of bearing down. Burning, corrosive, and pungent leucorrhea.

FAGOPYRUM ESCULENTUM--—Severe itching of vulva and vagina. Yellow discharges. Worse at rest. Itching better by cold water.

GRAPHITES—Intense vaginal itching , worse after menses. Vesicles and pimples on vulva. Excoriation on the vulva. Soreness of vagina. Itching with leucorrhea. White, watery like leucorrhea.

HELONIAS ---Apthous inflammation of vulva. Foul, lumpy, or curdled discharge. Parts swollen , red , burn and itch terribly.

KREOSOTUM. –Severe itching within the vagina. Itching, burning and swelling of labia. Violent itching between labia and thighs. Violent itching of vulva and vagina, worse when urinating. Violent pain during sex, burning in parts, followed by discharge of dark blood, next day. Gushing leucorrhea like bloody water, which is offensive, corrosive and staining the linen yellow.

MERC SOL---Vaginal itching with severe burning. Itching , smarting, corroding, burning after scratching with leucorrhea. Leucorrhea worse at night. Purulent, corrosive , greenish leucorrhea. Itching of genitals worse from contact of urine.

NATRUM MURIATICUM—Dry vagina with severe itching. Burning and smarting in vagina. Itching after menses. Itching of genital parts with falling off of hair. Pimples like eruptions on external genitals with itching. Burning, smarting and itching after urination.

NITRIC ACID—Itching, burning and sensation of dryness in vulva. Violent stitches in vagina. Stitches up vagina, or from without inward, when walking in open air. Great falling off of hair of genitals. Fetid, mucous, reddish- brown, corrosive leucorrhea.

OOPHORINUM—Intense itching of vagina. Itching better for a short time after menses.

PULSATILLA NIGRICANS---Milky, thick, cream –like discharge. Burning and itching in labia, vulva, and vagina.

SEPIA—Intense itching in vagina with leucorrhea. Leucorrhea yellow, greenish , milky in large lumps with much itching. Severe itching in vulva causing abortion. Stitching pain up in vagina from uterus to navel. Burning in vagina , and labia swollen. Bearing down sensation in pelvic region.

SULPHUR—Terrible itching of vagina. Continues to scratch, until the parts bleed.  Itching, burning and soreness, worse sitting. Sore feeling in vagina during sex. Leucorrhea burning and excoriating.

THUJA OCCIDENTALIS—Profuse, thick, greenish discharge. Vagina very sensitive. Itching , burning and soreness in vulva and vagina. Ulcers are seen in vulva and vagina. Erosion of cervix.e.t.c