Vulval cancer

Hi Mandi P 

Thanks for getting in touch with us. My name is Ellen and I’m one of the nurses from our Support Line.  

Welcome to our Online Community Mandi P. I hope that you find it supportive.

We’re sorry to read about your diagnosis of Vulval cancer. It’s understanding why you are asking if an anterior vulvectomy which has involved removing your clitoris is the same as a radical vulvectomy. Terminology can be confusing.

There are different types of surgery for vulval cancer. The type of surgery you have depends on different factors such as:

• where the cancer is on your vulva and how far it has spread

• the depth of the cancer. This is because your surgeon must remove all the cancer together with a border of healthy tissue around it.

• whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in your groin

• your personal wishes and feelings

• your general health

The aim of the surgery is to remove all the cancer while keeping as much healthy skin as possible. Removing all the cancer is the most important factor in trying to cure the cancer. 

An Anterior vulvectomy can sometimes be called a partial vulvectomy.

The surgeon removes the front part of the vulva. If the cancer is close to the clitoris, then the surgeon may be necessary to remove part, or all of the clitoris.  

A radical vulvectomy or vulvectomy is surgery to remove the whole vulva, including the inner and outer lips of the vulva. The clitoris may also be removed.

This NHS trust information leaflet about surgery for Vulval Cancer can be helpful to look at.

Often talking to others going through a similar experience can be helpful to do. As there is nothing quite like the support that you can get from others who know what it’s like. If that is something that you think would be helpful to do we have a very supportive Vulva cancer forum that you can join.

Best wishes and take care.

Ellen – Macmillan Cancer Information Nurse Specialist

You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808-808-0000 (7days a week, 8am-8pm) You can also chat to us online. Or if you prefer you can send us an email.

Ref; EMcp/UH