The main treatment options for vulvar cancer are surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, either individually or in combination with one another, advises the American Cancer Society. Early precancerous symptoms may be treatable using topical therapy. The therapy recommended for vulvar cancer depends on the stage of the cancer when it is diagnosed and the patient's overall health, age and individual treatment preferences.
Localized vulvar cancer, which is cancer that is localized to the vulvar area and has not spread to the nearby tissue or lymph nodes, has a five-year survival rate of 86 percent, according to the American Cancer Society. Once vulvar cancer has spread to the neighboring tissues or lymph nodes, which is known as regional cancer, the five-year survival rate drops to 54 percent. Advanced vulvar cancer that has spread to distant sites, including tissues or organs, has a 16 percent five-year survival rate.