Surgery for vulval cancer
Surgery is the main treatment for vulval cancer. The type of surgery you need depends on where the cancer is in your vulva. Find out about these, what happens before surgery and how you might feel after your operation.
This section is about surgery for vulval cancer. We have separate information about surgery for vulval intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN).
Types of surgery for vulval cancer
Surgery is the main treatment for vulval cancer. The type of surgery you need depends on how big the cancer is and how much of your vulva is affected.
Before your vulval cancer surgery
Before your operation you have some tests and meet members of your treatment team.
On the day of your vulval cancer surgery
On the day of your operation, you need to stop eating for a few hours. Your nurse will do some checks and your anaesthetist will give you an anaesthetic.
After vulval cancer surgery
It can help you to know what to expect when you wake up from surgery. You usually have a few tubes in place such as a drip and urinary catheter.
Problems after vulval cancer surgery
There is a risk of problems or complications after vulval surgery. Many problems are minor, but some are more serious.
