Skip to main content
  • COVID-19
    • COVID-19 vaccines and cancer
      • FAQs
      • FAQs in-language
      • SerOzNET Study
    • COVID-19 information for people affected by cancer
      • Managing your cancer care in the context of COVID-19
      • Looking after your mental wellbeing
      • Canada
      • Ireland
      • UK
      • USA
    • COVID-19 information for children and young people with cancer
    • Cancer Won’t Wait
    • Cancer and COVID-19 - what it means for our Mob
      • COVID-19 vaccines: Information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people affected by cancer
      • Act early for our Mob's health
    • Guidance for health professionals
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
      • Surgery
      • Medical oncology
      • Radiation oncology
      • Primary care
      • Telehealth
      • Clinical trials
      • Follow-up care
      • Supportive and Palliative care
      • Cancer care for cancer patients with COVID-19
      • COVID-19 vaccines and cancer
      • Recovery
    • Research articles
      • Review articles
      • Data articles
      • Recommendations articles
      • Shared experience articles
      • COVID-19 vaccines and cancer articles
    • Cancer care in the time of COVID-19: A conceptual framework
    • Optimal cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic: the Principles
    • The impact of COVID-19 on cancer services
    • COVID-19 Recovery: Implications for cancer care
      • Expanded use of telehealth
      • Changes to prevention and early detection
      • Virtual multidisciplinary team meetings
      • Modifications to treatment schedules
      • Hypofractionated radiotherapy
      • Oncology hospital in the home
      • Responsive patient support
      • Innovative care and hospital infrastructure models
      • Shared follow-up and survivorship care
      • Supportive and palliative care
      • Cancer research and clinical trials
      • Collaboration in the oncology sector and data sharing
      • Acknowledgements
  • About us
    • Organisational structure
    • Accountability and reporting
      • Annual reports
    • Who we work with
      • Roles & functions
      • Advisory Council
      • Advisory groups
      • Consumer engagement
      • Government cancer control organisations
    • Information publication scheme
      • Information publication scheme plan
      • Freedom of information act
        • The FOI request process
      • FOI disclosure log
    • Reconciliation action plan
    • Employment opportunities
  • News and media
    • News
    • Subscribe to our eNewsletter
  • Contact us
Cancer Australia
Choose Language
  • العربية
  • 简体中文
  • 繁體中文
  • Ελληνικά
  • हिन्दी
  • Italiano
  • 한국어
  • Español
  • Tagalog
  • Tiếng Việt
  • العربية
  • 简体中文
  • 繁體中文
  • Ελληνικά
  • हिन्दी
  • Italiano
  • 한국어
  • Español
  • Tagalog
  • Tiếng Việt
  • العربية
  • 简体中文
  • 繁體中文
  • Ελληνικά
  • हिन्दी
  • Italiano
  • 한국어
  • Español
  • Tagalog
  • Tiếng Việt
  • Home
  • Cancer types
  • Impacted by Cancer
  • Awareness
  • Research
  • Resources
  • Clinicians hub
  • Key initiatives
  • Home
  • Cancer types
    • Bladder cancer
    • Bowel cancer
    • Brain cancer
    • Breast cancer
    • Breast cancer in men
    • Breast cancer in young women
    • Cervical cancer
    • Children’s cancer
    • Endometrial cancer
    • Fallopian cancer
    • Gestational trophoblastic disease
    • Gynaecological cancers
    • Head and neck cancer
    • Kidney cancer
    • Leukaemia
    • Liver cancer
    • Lung cancer
    • Lymphoma
    • Melanoma
    • Mesothelioma cancer
    • Myeloma
    • Neuroendocrine tumours
    • Oesophageal cancer
    • Ovarian cancer
    • Pancreatic cancer
    • Prostate cancer
    • Sarcoma
    • Stomach cancer
    • Testicular cancer
    • Thyroid cancer
    • Unknown primary cancer
    • Uterine cancer
    • Vaginal cancer
    • Vulval cancer
  • Impacted by Cancer
    • What is cancer
    • Physical changes
    • Treatment
    • Keeping healthy
    • Emotions
    • Family and relationships
    • Living with cancer
  • Awareness
    • Your cancer risk
    • Screening
    • Interactive body map
  • Research
    • Cancer Research in Australia
    • Data and statistics
    • Australian Clinical Trials
    • Support for cancer clinical trials
    • Grants and funding
  • Resources
    • Cancer Australia Publications
    • Clinical Practice Guidelines
    • Position statements
    • Resources in other languages
    • Cancer Australia websites
    • Cancer risk online assessment tools
    • Other tools and resources
    • Podcasts
    • Cancer support organisations
    • Glossary
  • Clinicians hub
    • GP guides and resources
    • Guidelines by cancer type
    • Optimal cancer care pathways
    • Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
    • Multidisciplinary care
    • Psychosocial care
    • Follow-up care
    • Family cancer clinics
    • Cancer Learning
    • Consumer engagement
  • Key initiatives
    • For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
    • Australian Cancer Plan
    • Australian Brain Cancer Mission
    • Jeannie Ferris Award
    • Lung Cancer Screening
    • National Pancreatic Cancer Roadmap
    • Campaigns & events

Vulval cancer

vulval-mm cancer-types/vulval-cancer/overview
    • Home
    • Types
    • Statistics
    • Risk factors
    • Symptoms
    • Diagnosis
      • Staging and grading
      • VIN
    • Treatment
      • Effects on fertility
    • Living with
      • Physical changes
      • Emotional changes
    • Life after
    • Finding support
    • Clinical trials
    • Health professionals
    • Home
    • Types
    • Statistics
    • Risk factors
    • Symptoms
    • Diagnosis
      • Staging and grading
      • VIN
    • Treatment
      • Effects on fertility
    • Living with
      • Physical changes
      • Emotional changes
    • Life after
    • Finding support
    • Clinical trials
    • Health professionals
  1. Home
  2. Living with
  3. Physical changes
  • Physical changes
  • Emotional changes
Loading...

Managing physical changes due to vulval cancer

  • Printer-friendly version
  • A|A

Women treated for vulval cancer may experience a range of physical changes and symptoms.

Physical changes associated with vulval cancer can be due to the cancer itself or to treatment side effects. Not all women will experience these symptoms. Your doctor should tell you about any side effects of drugs or other treatments that are recommended.

Follow-up visits are a good opportunity to discuss any symptoms or side effects of treatment. Regardless of whether a woman is having regular follow-up visits, she should talk to a health professional about any symptoms or side effects that are concerning her.

This section describes some of the symptoms reported by women with vulval cancer and what can be done to manage them.

  • Fatigue
  • Sleep problems
  • Eating problems
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Mouth sores
  • Bladder problems
  • Bowel problems
  • Pain

Lymphoedema

Lymphoedema is swelling of part of the body, usually the legs or the arms. It may occur after treatment for vulval cancer if you have had the lymph nodes in your abdomen removed (lymphadenectomy). Women who have had surgery followed by radiotherapy are particularly at risk.

Removal of the nodes may prevent normal draining of the lymph fluid from the legs. As a result, fluid can build up in one or both legs causing swelling. This usually doesn’t occur until some time after treatment.

If you have problems, seek immediate help as symptoms are better managed if treated early. Seek advice from your specialist or nurse.

Some hospitals have specialist physiotherapists who can help reduce your risk of developing lymphoedema.

Tips:

  • Gently massage the swollen leg towards your heart to move the fluid out to other lymph channels
  • Wear special bandages, stockings or a compression garment to help remove fluid
  • Avoid infection by caring for your skin and nails
  • Exercise the leg to help move fluid out of the area and into other lymph channels
  • Avoid injections in your legs
  • Keep the leg raised higher than the heart when you can.

Fertility problems

Although the vulva is a part of the female sex organs, in most cases fertility will not be affected by treatment for vulval cancer. Your doctor can advise you if you have any concerns about fertility or sexual problems.

Menopause

If you’ve had chemotherapy or full pelvic radiotherapy, your periods may stop, either temporarily or permanently.

The usual age for menopause is between 45 and 55. The loss of menstruation and fertility at a younger age can lead to feelings of sadness, grief and low self-esteem. You may feel old before your time or less feminine.

When menopause is brought on by cancer treatment, the symptoms are usually more severe than a natural menopause because the body hasn’t had time to get used to the gradual decrease in hormone levels. You may experience hot flushes, mood swings, trouble sleeping and tiredness. The vagina can also lose elasticity and become dry, because it needs oestrogen to stay moist.

You can manage menopausal symptoms in several ways:

  • Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help reduce your symptoms. Using HRT for more than five years increases the risk of some diseases including breast cancer, but it also decreases the risk of other diseases. You will need to talk to your gynaecologic oncologist about the benefits and risks of HRT. If you were already on HRT when your cancer was diagnosed, you will need to weigh up the risks of continuing it. Because vulval cancer can be hormone-sensitive, HRT may not be suitable for some women.
  • Locally applied oestrogen, contained in creams or pessaries, can be inserted into the vagina to relieve dryness. Vaginal moisturisers without oestrogen can also be used.
  • To relieve hot flushes, try wearing cotton clothing and using cotton sheets, and dressing in layers that you can take off if you get warm. Sleep in a cool room to avoid being awakened by a hot flush. Limit your intake of alcohol, caffeine and spicy foods.
  • There are a number of dietary, herbal and alternative approaches to managing menopausal symptoms, such as herbal remedies and changes to your diet. Talk to your doctor or health care team for more information.

No matter what you decide to do, you should advise your doctors about how you are managing your menopausal symptoms.

Osteoporosis

Menopause may cause bones to weaken and break more easily. This is called osteoporosis.

You may be able to prevent osteoporosis by:

  • getting your daily recommended amounts of calcium and vitamin D
  • engaging in regular weight-bearing exercise
  • avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol.

Talk to your health-care provider about osteoporosis. You may have a bone density test or be prescribed medication to prevent your bones from becoming weak and brittle. You can also call Osteoporosis Australia on (02) 9518 8140 or visit their website.

Cardiovascular effects

After menopause, changes in your cholesterol balance increase your risk of hardening and blockage of the arteries.

If you smoke, quitting is probably the most important thing you can do to either prevent heart disease or prevent further problems if you already have heart disease.

There are many other positive lifestyle changes you can make at menopause that will reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. You can try to maintain a healthy weight by eating a balanced diet with lower fat levels, exercising regularly and reducing your stress levels. If necessary, your doctor may prescribe medications to reduce your risk, such as cholesterol-lowering drugs.

  • Last Updated
  • Relevant Links
updated: 20 October 2020 - 3:32pm
American Cancer Society, Vulvar cancer
National Cancer Institute (US), Vulvar cancer treatment (PDQ®), patient version
Australian Cancer Trials

Related information

What is cancer?
What is cancer?

Cancer is a disease of the cells, which are the body’s basic building blocks.

Treatment and side effects
Treatment and side effects

The treatment that your doctors recommend will depend on the type of cancer you have, how advanced it is, and other personal factors.

Living with cancer
Living with cancer

A diagnosis of cancer marks the beginning of a journey full of emotional, psychological, physical and practical challenges.

Life after cancer
Life after cancer

While looking forward to finishing their cancer treatment and getting on with life, for some people, the end of treatment can also be a confusing or worrying time.

A-Z List of Cancer Types

Information on more than 70 types of cancer

  • Bladder cancer
  • Bowel cancer
  • Brain cancer
  • Breast cancer
  • Breast cancer in men
  • Breast cancer in young women
  • Cervical cancer
  • Children's Cancer
  • Endometrial cancer
  • Fallopian cancer
  • Gestational trophoblastic disease
  • Gynaecological cancers
  • Head and neck cancer
  • Kidney cancer
  • Leukaemia
  • Liver cancer
  • Lung cancer
  • Lymphoma
  • Melanoma of the skin
  • Mesothelioma cancer
  • Myeloma
  • Neuroendocrine tumours
  • Oesophageal cancer
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Prostate cancer
  • Sarcoma
  • Stomach cancer
  • Testicular cancer
  • Thyroid cancer
  • Unknown primary
  • Uterine sarcoma
  • Vaginal cancer
  • Vulval cancer

About Cancer Australia

Cancer Australia was established by the Australian Government in 2006 to benefit all Australians affected by cancer, and their families and carers. Cancer Australia aims to reduce the impact of cancer, address disparities and improve outcomes for people affected by cancer by leading and coordinating national, evidence-based interventions across the continuum of care.

If you would like an interpreter to help you understand any information on this website, please call TIS National on 131 450 and ask them to call Cancer Australia on 02 9357 9400. Our business hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Freecall 1800 624 973
+61 2 9357 9400

Locked Bag 3, Strawberry Hills
NSW 2012

Navigation

  • Cancer types
  • Impacted by Cancer
  • Awareness
  • Research
  • Resources
  • Clinicians hub
  • Key initiatives

Contact us

* Denotes mandatory fields
 

By submitting this form, you accept the Cancer Australia privacy policy.

  • Contact Us
  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy policy
  • Sitemap
Copyright © 2022 - Cancer Australia