Treatment of stages I and II (1 & 2) vulvar cancer
Treatment of stage I vulvar cancer and stage II vulvar cancer may include:
- surgery (wide local excision)
- surgery (radical local excision with removal of lymph nodes in the groin and upper thigh)
- surgery (modified radical vulvectomy or radical vulvectomy with removal of lymph nodes in the groin and upper thigh) followed by radiation therapy in some cases
- surgery (radical local excision and removal of sentinel lymph node) followed by radiation therapy in some cases
- radiation therapy alone
Treatment of stage III (3) vulvar cancer
Treatment of stage III vulvar cancer may include:
- surgery (modified radical vulvectomy or radical vulvectomy with removal of lymph nodes in the groin and upper thigh) with or without radiation therapy
- radiation therapy or chemotherapy and radiation therapy followed by surgery
- radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy
Treatment of stage IV (4) vulvar cancer
Treatment of stage IVA vulvar cancer may include:
- surgery (radical vulvectomy or pelvic exenteration)
- surgery and radiation therapy
- radiation therapy or chemotherapy and radiation therapy followed by surgery
- radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy
There is no standard treatment for stage IVB vulvar cancer. Chemotherapy has been studied and may be used if the patient can tolerate it.
Treatment of recurrent vulvar cancer
Treatment of locally recurrent vulvar cancer may include:
- surgery (wide local excision) with or without radiation therapy
- surgery (radical vulvectomy and pelvic exenteration)
- chemotherapy and radiation therapy with or without surgery
- radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy
- radiation therapy and surgery
- radiation therapy as palliative treatment to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life