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Statistics at a Glance

At a Glance

Estimated New Cases in 2019 6,070

% of All New Cancer Cases 0.3%

Estimated Deaths in 2019 1,280

% of All Cancer Deaths 0.2%

Percent Surviving
5 Years

71.1% 2009-2015
Year New Cases - SEER 9 New Cases - SEER 13 Deaths - U.S. Percent Surviving 5 Years - SEER 9
Observed Modeled Trend Observed Modeled Trend Observed Modeled Trend Observed Modeled Trend
1975 2.12 2.03 - - 0.54 0.53 75.72% 75.38%
1976 2.11 2.04 - - 0.51 0.52 70.19% 75.37%
1977 2.33 2.05 - - 0.51 0.51 76.64% 75.35%
1978 1.82 2.06 - - 0.50 0.50 75.05% 75.34%
1979 2.12 2.08 - - 0.47 0.48 77.75% 75.33%
1980 1.92 2.09 - - 0.46 0.47 77.83% 75.31%
1981 1.90 2.10 - - 0.48 0.46 73.16% 75.30%
1982 2.11 2.11 - - 0.44 0.45 73.38% 75.28%
1983 2.04 2.12 - - 0.46 0.44 69.36% 75.27%
1984 2.16 2.14 - - 0.42 0.43 73.17% 75.26%
1985 1.99 2.15 - - 0.45 0.43 71.19% 75.24%
1986 2.15 2.16 - - 0.43 0.43 75.54% 75.23%
1987 1.93 2.17 - - 0.41 0.43 73.42% 75.21%
1988 2.44 2.18 - - 0.43 0.44 73.16% 75.20%
1989 2.09 2.20 - - 0.41 0.44 73.53% 75.19%
1990 2.67 2.21 - - 0.44 0.44 73.55% 75.17%
1991 2.22 2.22 - - 0.44 0.44 80.00% 75.16%
1992 2.13 2.23 2.08 2.04 0.47 0.44 70.69% 75.14%
1993 2.09 2.25 2.07 2.09 0.46 0.44 78.70% 75.13%
1994 2.18 2.26 2.16 2.14 0.44 0.44 76.41% 75.11%
1995 2.21 2.27 2.14 2.19 0.48 0.45 72.54% 75.10%
1996 2.32 2.28 2.17 2.24 0.43 0.45 81.48% 75.09%
1997 2.44 2.30 2.33 2.29 0.42 0.45 78.26% 75.07%
1998 2.40 2.31 2.36 2.34 0.45 0.45 82.06% 75.06%
1999 2.57 2.32 2.37 2.31 0.46 0.45 77.26% 75.04%
2000 2.27 2.34 2.18 2.28 0.45 0.45 78.59% 75.03%
2001 2.44 2.35 2.30 2.24 0.45 0.45 75.59% 75.02%
2002 2.33 2.36 2.11 2.21 0.46 0.46 69.92% 75.00%
2003 2.47 2.38 2.30 2.18 0.45 0.46 77.17% 74.99%
2004 2.22 2.39 2.10 2.15 0.46 0.46 78.01% 74.97%
2005 2.19 2.40 2.10 2.17 0.45 0.46 76.93% 74.96%
2006 2.42 2.42 2.21 2.20 0.47 0.47 72.02% 74.94%
2007 2.32 2.43 2.27 2.23 0.47 0.47 75.17% 74.93%
2008 2.46 2.44 2.30 2.26 0.49 0.48 67.99% 74.92%
2009 2.57 2.46 2.31 2.28 0.50 0.49 80.29% 74.90%
2010 2.51 2.47 2.39 2.31 0.48 0.50 72.45% 74.89%
2011 2.36 2.49 2.27 2.34 0.52 0.50 74.17% 74.87%
2012 2.50 2.50 2.32 2.37 0.52 0.51 - 74.86%
2013 2.60 2.51 2.37 2.40 0.49 0.52 - 74.85%
2014 2.66 2.53 2.49 2.43 0.52 0.53 - 74.83%
2015 2.50 2.54 2.26 2.33 0.53 0.53 - 74.82%
2016 2.45 2.56 2.27 2.23 0.56 0.54 - 74.80%

Modeled trend lines were calculated from the underlying rates using the Joinpoint Trend Analysis Software.

Number of New Cases and Deaths per 100,000: The number of new cases of vulvar cancer was 2.5 per 100,000 women per year. The number of deaths was 0.5 per 100,000 women per year. These rates are age-adjusted and based on 2012-2016 cases and deaths.

Lifetime Risk of Developing Cancer: Approximately 0.3 percent of women will be diagnosed with vulvar cancer at some point during their lifetime, based on 2014-2016 data.

Survival Statistics

How Many People Survive 5 Years Or More after Being Diagnosed with Vulvar Cancer?

Relative survival statistics compare the survival of patients diagnosed with cancer with the survival of people in the general population who are the same age, race, and sex and who have not been diagnosed with cancer. Because survival statistics are based on large groups of people, they cannot be used to predict exactly what will happen to an individual patient. No two patients are entirely alike, and treatment and responses to treatment can vary greatly.

71.1%

Percent Surviving
5 Years

71.1%

Based on data from SEER 18 2009-2015. Gray figures represent those who have died from vulvar cancer. Green figures represent those who have survived 5 years or more.

Additional Information

Survival by Stage

Cancer stage at diagnosis, which refers to extent of a cancer in the body, determines treatment options and has a strong influence on the length of survival. In general, if the cancer is found only in the part of the body where it started it is localized (sometimes referred to as stage 1). If it has spread to a different part of the body, the stage is regional or distant. The earlier vulvar cancer is caught, the better chance a person has of surviving five years after being diagnosed. For vulvar cancer, 59.2% are diagnosed at the local stage. The 5-year survival for localized vulvar cancer is 86.3%.

Percent of Cases & 5-Year Relative Survival by Stage at Diagnosis: Vulvar Cancer
Stage Percent of Cases 5-Year Relative Survival
Localized
Confined to Primary Site		 59% 86.3%
Regional
Spread to Regional Lymph Nodes		 29% 52.6%
Distant
Cancer Has Metastasized		 6% 22.7%
Unknown
Unstaged		 5% 62.6%

SEER 18 2009-2015, All Races, Females by SEER Summary Stage 2000

Additional Information

Number of New Cases and Deaths

How Common Is This Cancer?

Compared to other cancers, vulvar cancer is rare.

Rank Common Types of Cancer Estimated New
Cases 2019		 Estimated
Deaths 2019
1. Breast Cancer (Female) 268,600 41,760
2. Lung and Bronchus Cancer 228,150 142,670
3. Prostate Cancer 174,650 31,620
4. Colorectal Cancer 145,600 51,020
5. Melanoma of the Skin 96,480 7,230
6. Bladder Cancer 80,470 17,670
7. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 74,200 19,970
8. Kidney and Renal Pelvis Cancer 73,820 14,770
9. Uterine Cancer 61,880 12,160
10. Leukemia 61,780 22,840
- - -
28. Vulvar Cancer 6,070 1,280

Vulvar cancer represents 0.3% of all new cancer cases in the U.S.

0.3%

In 2019, it is estimated that there will be 6,070 new cases of vulvar cancer and an estimated 1,280 people will die of this disease.

Who Gets This Cancer?

Vulvar cancer is rare. It is more common among women with a medical history of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, or genital warts. The number of new cases of vulvar cancer was 2.5 per 100,000 women per year based on 2012-2016 cases.

Number of New Cases per 100,000 Persons by Race/Ethnicity: Vulvar Cancer
Males
All Races Sex-specific cancer type
White
Black
Asian/Pacific Islander
American Indian/Alaska Native
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic
Females
All Races 2.5
White 2.8
Black 1.8
Asian/Pacific Islander 0.9
American Indian/Alaska Native 1.9
Hispanic 1.8
Non-Hispanic 2.7

SEER 21 2012-2016, Age-Adjusted

Percent of New Cases by Age Group: Vulvar Cancer
Age Range Percent of New Cases
<20 0.1%
20-34 1.5%
35-44 5.0%
45-54 13.9%
55-64 19.8%
65-74 22.4%
75-84 21.9%
>84 15.4%

Vulvar cancer is most frequently diagnosed among women aged 65-74.

Median Age
At Diagnosis

69

SEER 21 2012-2016, All Races, Females

Who Dies From This Cancer?

For vulvar cancer, death rates increase with age. The number of deaths was 0.5 per 100,000 women per year based on 2012-2016.

Number of Deaths per 100,000 Persons by Race/Ethnicity: Vulvar Cancer
Males
All Races Sex-specific cancer type
White
Black
Asian/Pacific Islander
American Indian/Alaska Native
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic
Females
All Races 0.5
White 0.6
Black 0.3
Asian/Pacific Islander 0.1
American Indian/Alaska Native 0.4
Hispanic 0.3
Non-Hispanic 0.5

U.S. 2012-2016, Age-Adjusted

Percent of Deaths by Age Group: Vulvar Cancer
Age Range Percent of Deaths
<20 0.1%
20-34 0.5%
35-44 1.6%
45-54 6.8%
55-64 13.7%
65-74 19.8%
75-84 27.3%
>84 30.2%

The percent of vulvar cancer deaths is highest among women aged 85+.

Median Age
At Death

78

U.S. 2012-2016, All Races, Females

Trends in Rates

Changes Over Time

Keeping track of the number of new cases, deaths, and survival over time (trends) can help scientists understand whether progress is being made and where additional research is needed to address challenges, such as improving screening or finding better treatments.

Using statistical models for analysis, rates for new vulvar cancer cases have been rising on average 0.6% each year over the last 10 years. Death rates have been rising on average 1.5% each year over 2007-2016. 5-year survival trends are shown below.

New Cases, Deaths and 5-Year Relative Survival
View Data Table

More About This Cancer

Cancer and the Vulva

Vulvar cancer forms in a woman's external genitalia. The vulva includes:

  • Inner and outer lips of the vagina.
  • Clitoris (sensitive tissue between the lips).
  • Opening of the vagina and its glands.
  • Mons pubis (the rounded area in front of the pubic bones that becomes covered with hair at puberty).
  • Perineum (the area between the vulva and the anus)

Vulvar cancer most often affects the outer vaginal lips. Less often, cancer affects the inner vaginal lips, clitoris, or vaginal glands.

Vulvar cancer usually forms slowly over a number of years. Abnormal cells can grow on the surface of the vulvar skin for a long time. This condition is called vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN). Because it is possible for VIN to become vulvar cancer, it is very important to get treatment.

Additional Information

More Information

Here are some resources for learning more about vulvar cancer.

References

All statistics in this report are based on statistics from SEER and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. Most can be found within:

Howlader N, Noone AM, Krapcho M, Miller D, Brest A, Yu M, Ruhl J, Tatalovich Z, Mariotto A, Lewis DR, Chen HS, Feuer EJ, Cronin KA (eds). SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2016, National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, https://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2016/, based on November 2018 SEER data submission, posted to the SEER web site, April 2019.

Suggested Citation

All material in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.

SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Vulvar Cancer. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/vulva.html

These stat facts focus on population statistics that are based on the U.S. population. Because these statistics are based on large groups of people, they cannot be used to predict exactly what will happen to an individual patient. To see tailored statistics, browse the SEER Cancer Statistics Review. To see statistics for a specific state, go to the State Cancer Profiles.

The statistics presented in these stat facts are based on the most recent data available, most of which can be found in the SEER Cancer Statistics Review. In some cases, different year spans may be used. Estimates for the current year are based on past data.

Cancer is a complex topic. There is a wide range of information available. These stat facts do not address causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up care, or decision making, although links are provided to information in many of these areas.