CANSA is encouraging women to recognise persistent changes affecting the vulva and seek medical advice early as part of its Women’s Month awareness campaign.
Many women delay seeking medical care because they feel embarrassed discussing intimate health concerns. Through its “Know Your Vulva, Know When to Ask” campaign, the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) hopes to change that by encouraging women to understand what is normal for their bodies and speak to a healthcare professional when something changes.
The campaign focuses on the vulva, the external female genital area, and aims to help women use the correct medical language when describing symptoms to healthcare providers.
According to CANSA, vulval cancer is uncommon but becoming more common in South Africa, with research showing increasing diagnoses among younger, middle-aged and older women.
An analysis of South Africa’s National Cancer Registry found that the incidence of vulval squamous cell carcinoma increased by an estimated 8% per year between 2011 and 2021, with the largest increases recorded among women aged 15 to 44 and 45 to 54.
CANSA’s summary of the 2024 National Cancer Registry also identified vulval cancer as one of the 10 most frequently diagnosed invasive cancers among South African women. During the year, 1,078 cases were confirmed through tissue examinations, with an estimated lifetime risk of one in 347 women.
“Women are often taught to feel embarrassed about discussing intimate health concerns. This can delay them from seeking help when symptoms persist or keep returning,” said Lorraine Govender, CANSA National Manager: Health Programmes.
“Our message is simple: know what is normal for you and ask for help when something changes.”
CANSA advises women to seek medical advice if they experience persistent itching, burning or pain, lumps or swelling, thickened skin, sores that do not heal, changes in skin colour, bleeding unrelated to menstruation, pain during urination, discomfort during sex or symptoms that repeatedly return after treatment.
While these symptoms are often linked to conditions other than cancer, the organisation says any symptom lasting longer than two weeks or returning repeatedly should be assessed by a healthcare professional.
The organisation also highlights the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in some vulval cancers and continues to encourage eligible girls to receive the HPV vaccine through South Africa’s national vaccination programme.
CANSA reminds women that cervical screening does not test for vulval cancer and that persistent changes affecting the vulva should always be reported, even if cervical screening results are normal.
“Knowing your body and speaking up early gives healthcare professionals the opportunity to examine the symptom, identify the cause and arrange further care if needed,” Govender said.
“There is no shame in asking for help.”
