How to treat vulvar cancer
Treatment for vulvar cancer varies for each patient. It’s important to have a treatment plan that is tailored to the unique location and stage of the cancer. Surgery is usually the first approach, and there are different types of surgery your care team may choose from. Your treatment plan may involve a combination of surgery and advanced radiation therapies. Chemotherapy may be necessary before or after surgery, and hormone therapy may also be used to prevent the cancer from growing and spreading.
Our approach to vulvar cancer treatment
Penn Medicine offers extensive options for treating vulvar cancer. Our specialists are experts in using advanced techniques to manage vulvar cancer and have extensive training in cancer treatment and clinical trials. We ensure you feel supported throughout your treatment journey using the following programs and resources.
In addition to conventional treatments, we offer integrative medicine and wellness programs, including acupuncture, mindfulness-based stress reduction, reiki therapy, yoga, exercise and rehabilitation. These programs help to improve your quality of life, reduce treatment side effects, and support your recovery.
Our cancer support services include social work counseling, nutritional counseling, psychological support, and spiritual counseling. These supportive care services are available to patients treated at select Penn Medicine locations. If you need any of these services, ask your doctor about which services are available.
Palliative care provides physical, emotional and spiritual support to complement traditional cancer therapies when curative treatments are no longer viable. These services include palliative chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, psychological counseling, art therapy, and support groups.
Penn Medicine offers a variety of home care and hospice services, including specialized therapies and medications for vulvar cancer patients that can be administered in the comfort of a patient’s home.
Innovative clinical trials for vulvar cancer
We’re dedicated to making clinical trials accessible to patients around the world. Our researchers lead these trials with the goal of developing new treatment options that can be used either alone or alongside standard cancer therapies. This provides improved treatment choices for vulvar cancer. We encourage you to talk to your doctor to determine your eligibility for vulvar cancer clinical trials and to explore these advanced treatment options.
Rated “exceptional” by The National Cancer Institute
Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center is a world leader in cancer research, patient care, and education. Our status as a national leader in cancer care is reflected in our continuous designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) since 1973, one of 7 such centers in the United States. The ACC is also a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, one of a select few cancer centers in the U.S., that are working to promote equitable access to high-quality, advanced cancer care.