Vulvar Cancer Survival Rates

How common is vulvar cancer?

Vulvar cancer is uncommon compared with other gynecologic cancers.

According to the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program, an estimated 7,130 new cases of vulvar cancer and 1,750 deaths are expected in the United States in 2026.

What is the survival rate for vulvar cancer?

Survival statistics describe outcomes among large groups of people diagnosed with cancer. They cannot predict how long an individual person will live.

A commonly reported measure is the five-year relative survival rate. This compares the survival of people with a particular cancer with that of people in the general population of similar age and other characteristics.

According to SEER data for people diagnosed between 2016 and 2022, the overall five-year relative survival rate for vulvar cancer was approximately 69.7%.

What affects vulvar cancer prognosis?

Several factors influence prognosis:

• Cancer stage at diagnosis

• Whether cancer has spread to groin lymph nodes

• Tumor size and depth of invasion

• Type of vulvar cancer

• Whether the tumor can be completely removed

• Overall health and other medical conditions

• Response to treatment

• Whether cancer returns after treatment

Lymph node involvement is particularly important when evaluating vulvar cancer prognosis.

Does a five-year survival rate mean someone will only live five years?

No. A five-year survival rate describes the proportion of people alive five years after diagnosis relative to the general population. It does not mean that someone is expected to live only five years. Many people with vulvar cancer live much longer, especially when their disease is diagnosed and treated early.