Early vulvar melanoma: what to know

Vulvar melanoma is a form of melanoma arising in the skin or mucosal tissue of the vulva. It may appear as a new dark patch, an uneven mole, a lesion with several colours, or a spot that changes in size or surface. It can also cause itching, bleeding, soreness, or a non-healing area. These symptoms have many possible causes, so they do not by themselves establish melanoma; a biopsy is needed for diagnosis.

Early stage describes the findings from examination, biopsy, and staging. The pathology report may describe depth, margins, and other features that influence whether more local surgery or lymph-node assessment is advised.

Book a prompt appointment with a gynaecologist, dermatologist, or specialist skin-cancer team. Avoid picking, shaving over, or applying irritant products to the lesion. Record changes in colour, border, thickness, bleeding, or discomfort, and bring medication details to the visit. Management often involves planned removal of the lesion with surrounding tissue; surgical excision, skin cancer surgery, or tumour removal surgery may be discussed. A sentinel lymph node biopsy may be considered according to the pathology and clinical findings.

After treatment, attend follow-up visits and report changes at the scar, vulva, groin, or elsewhere on the skin. Follow-up after cancer treatment helps the team monitor healing and check for new concerns.

Seek prompt assessment for a vulvar mark that is changing, bleeding, ulcerated, painful, persistently itchy, or not healing. Get urgent help for heavy bleeding, rapidly increasing swelling, severe pain, fever, or difficulty passing urine. New weakness, confusion, seizure, or a severe unusual headache also needs emergency assessment. The urgency comes from the warning sign and its progression, not from assuming that a symptom means cancer.

Ask: Do I need a biopsy, and where will it be taken? What do the pathology findings mean? Is further excision needed? Would sentinel lymph node biopsy help with staging? How will surgery affect vulvar function and healing? What follow-up schedule and symptoms should I expect?