For this surgery, Dr. Doherty removes part (partial vulvectomy) or all (total vulvectomy) of your vulva. The extent of surgery depends on the size of the tumor, where it is located on the vulva, and how much of the vulva is involved. It also depends on the traits of the tumor itself and whether Dr. Doherty can remove enough normal tissue around the tumor.
Also, Dr. Doherty will consider the postoperative cosmetic result and the impact of surgery on your quality of life. He may also remove lymph nodes, where cancer cells can often be found, too. He removes lymph nodes from your groin to check for signs of cancer. You may receive chemotherapy and radiation therapy before or after this surgery. Dr. Doherty will explain what he or she thinks is best for your situation.