prognosis of vulval cancer

Last edited 05/2019

Prognosis depends upon:

• stage - 90% 5 year survival for stage I disease to 15% survival for stage IV

• lymph node status - 50% 5 year survival for patients with lymphatic metastases to 90% for those without; those with more than three positive nodes do badly irrespective of stage

More than half (53%) of women diagnosed with vaginal or vulval cancer in England survive their disease for ten years or more (2009-13).

Almost two-thirds (64%) of women diagnosed with vaginal or vulval cancer in England survive their disease for five years or more (2009-2013).

More than 8 in 10 (82%) women diagnosed with vaginal or vulval cancer in England survive their disease for one year or more (2009-2013).

Vagina and vulva cancer survival in England is highest for women diagnosed aged under 50 years old (2009-2013).

More than 8 in 10 women in England diagnosed with vagina or vulva cancer aged 15-49 survive their disease for five years or more, compared with almost 6 in 10 women diagnosed aged 70-89 (2009-2013)

Reference:

• Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer (April 2000). NHS Executive.
• Bridges, J. Management of advanced gynaecological malignancies. J. Hosp. Medicine 1993;49(3):191-2.
• CRUK. Vulval cancer statistics (Accessed 29/5/19)