Cancer
Pain in the vulva is a common symptom of cancer of the vulva, whether it’s caused by vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia, malignant melanoma, or squamous cell carcinoma. The most common symptom is burning pain, which can be constant or intermittent and typically worsens when sitting for long periods. Other common symptoms include itching, dryness, soreness, and discharge.
The first step in treating cancer-related vulvar pain is to diagnose the underlying cause and begin treatment as soon as possible. Diagnosis may require a biopsy of the affected area before taking further steps. Once you have been diagnosed with cancer and started treatment, your doctor may recommend several anesthetics, pain medications, and topical treatments to help manage your symptoms.
The first line of treatment is usually an application of local anesthetic cream, a lidocaine ointment called LMX4. This ointment helps relieve itching, burning, or soreness by blocking the transmission of pain signals to the brain. It is often used on its own or with other treatments, such as analgesic creams or gels, providing additional pain relief without numbing the skin. Other topical treatments include capsaicin creams, which effectively treat the itching associated with psoriasis. Capsaicin is derived from chili peppers and works by depleting substance P, a chemical that transmits pain signals through nerve cells.
