How long does it take for vulvar cancer to progress from early to late stage?

Written by Sun Ming Yue
Medical Oncology
Updated on September 27, 2024
00:00
00:00

If you have vulvar cancer, and want to know how long it takes to progress from early to late stage, it varies from person to person and cannot precisely be determined. Each individual's constitution is different, so the progression of the disease varies. It is recommended that patients seek medical treatment as soon as they discover they have vulvar cancer, to try to control the growth of the tumor, prevent it from spreading, enhance immune system, and improve physique, thereby aiming to extend survival.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Sun Ming Yue
Medical Oncology
37sec home-news-image

How long does it take for vulvar cancer to progress from early to late stage?

If you have vulvar cancer, and want to know how long it takes to progress from early to late stage, it varies from person to person and cannot precisely be determined. Each individual's constitution is different, so the progression of the disease varies. It is recommended that patients seek medical treatment as soon as they discover they have vulvar cancer, to try to control the growth of the tumor, prevent it from spreading, enhance immune system, and improve physique, thereby aiming to extend survival.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
1min 4sec home-news-image

Does vulvar cancer spread quickly if not treated with chemotherapy?

Vulvar cancer is a type of malignant tumor in women. For patients in the early stages of vulvar cancer, chemotherapy is generally not required after radical surgery. Even without chemotherapy, the disease progression of early-stage vulvar cancer is relatively slow, and many patients can achieve clinical cure after the radical surgery. However, for patients with mid-to-late stage vulvar cancer, postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy is generally required after the radical surgery to reduce the chances of disease recurrence and metastasis. Without postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, the disease can spread quickly, and many patients soon experience the spread of the disease, eventually leading to multi-organ failure and death. Therefore, it is essential for patients who need adjuvant chemotherapy to complete the supplementary treatment regularly and on time after surgery.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
54sec home-news-image

What tests are needed to determine the cause of vulvar cancer?

Vulvar cancer is a type of malignant tumor in female gynecology. Clinically, the following examinations can be used to identify the cause of vulvar cancer. First, testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) can be conducted. If the patient is found to be infected with HPV, then the cause of vulvar cancer can be considered to be due to viral infection. Additionally, herpes virus testing can also be performed, as many patients with vulvar cancer are caused by herpes virus infection. Thirdly, cytological examination of the vulva can be conducted to detect if there are any malnutritive lesions, such as vulvar lichen sclerosus, and other diseases like dermatophytosis, which are also reasons for the high incidence of vulvar cancer.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Sun Ming Yue
Medical Oncology
1min 7sec home-news-image

Late-stage vulvar cancer can spread to where?

Patients with vulvar cancer generally have lymphatic metastasis because there are many lymphatic vessels in the perineum, and the capillaries of the lymphatic system are interconnected. Thus, vulvar cancer can lead to bilateral lymphatic vessel spread. Initially, it leads to superficial inguinal lymph nodes, then it spreads to the bone lymph nodes below the groin, and eventually progresses to the lymph nodes alongside the aorta and the lymph nodes below the left clavicle. If the cancer is located in the clitoris, it may bypass the superficial inguinal lymph nodes and directly spread to the lymph nodes inside the pelvis. The tumor in the vulvar area will gradually increase in size; it generally does not invade the muscle fascia or adjacent structures. If the vagina is invaded, it can easily and immediately involve the levator ani muscles, rectum, urethral opening, and bladder, among others.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Cui Fang Bo
Oncology
42sec home-news-image

Can vulvar cancer be detected by B-ultrasound?

Vulvar cancer, due to its superficial location, does not require an ultrasound for detection. Vulvar cancer is a malignant tumor of the vulva, with primary squamous epithelium being the most common type. The main clinical manifestations are vulvar nodules, often accompanied by pain and significant itching. Local necrosis or infection can occur, and the lesions of vulvar cancer can be directly observed with the naked eye. However, ultrasound examination is also widely used in vulvar cancer, not for detecting the cancer itself, but for examining whether there is enlargement of the lymph nodes in the groin, abdomen, and pelvic regions, suspecting invasion by cancer cells.