Lymph nodes may also be removed. Laser surgery uses a narrow beam of light to remove cancer cells. Skinning vulvectomy takes out only the skin of the vulva that contains the cancer. Simple vulvectomy takes out the entire vulva, but no lymph nodes. Partial vulvectomy takes out less than the entire vulva.
Radical vulvectomy takes out the entire vulva.
The lymph nodes around it are usually removed as well. Radiation may be used alone or before or after surgery. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Drugs may be given by mouth, or they may be put into the body by a needle in the vein or muscle. Chemotherapy is called systemic treatment because the drug enters the bloodstream, travels through the body, and can kill cancer cells throughout the body.