HOW DID YOU KNOW YOU HAD VIN?

Hi Suedoug,

That is ok :) I am sorry that you are also having burning for two months. That is not fun at all!  My VINs are from HPV, I am HPV positive 16 and 18 which causes cancer, yikes. You mentioned you have no HPV, so I hope yours are not scary as much as I do. There are some other causes of burning, so I hope you can get to see a specialist. Best wishes.

Kuma

Awe thank you for your reply! 

I had a Pap test and all was clear.  The burning is annoying - I feel it started with bath products that burned badly - not sure if dermatitis would take this long to heal!  Just worried because of course I google and it all came up vulva cancer.  This came on out of the blue - never a problem - only sensitive down there always! The small cut I had has healed and onlything left is redness. 

I’m so sorry for your diagnosis but so glad you caught it and know now what to look out for + thank goodness no cancer. 

Thank you again for your reply ️

Just been reading your thread, and sorry for my ignorance, but what is VIN ?

thanks x

Linda, here is a little information describing what VIN is, I found this info to be one of the easiest to understand articles. Basically though, VIN is pre-cancer in the vulva. It is a perfectly good question if you've never dealt with it before. Many women don't even know where their vulva is. One thing I would add though after reading the above posts is I would never try a vinegar test on yourself...that is for a gynecologist to do. They don't know if it is VIN until a biopsy is taken and it is sent to pathology; many times my biopsies have just showed lichen sclerosis that had not turned to VIN yet. The test is actually called a colposcopy here in the United States; it usually coincides with a vulvar biopsy.

Sincerely, Lisa Slavinski

About vulvar cancer - Cancer begins when healthy cells change and grow out of control, forming a mass called a tumor. A tumor can be cancerous or benign. A cancerous tumor is malignant, meaning it can grow and spread to other parts of the body. A benign tumor means the tumor can grow but will not spread.

Vulvar cancer is named for the type of tissue where the cancer started.

• Squamous cell carcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma is a type of skin cancer that accounts for about 90% of vulvar cancers, most of which are found on the labia.

  Squamous cancer can develop through a “precancerous” condition, which is when changes in cells may, but do not always, become cancer. This is called vulva intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN). VIN is a premalignant growth of cells on the vulva and is treated differently from invasive cancer. “Premalignant” means that it is not yet cancer. VIN is further divided into 2 groups based on how the cells look under a microscope, called “usual-type VIN” and “differentiated VIN.” Usual-type VIN usually appears in younger women and is associated with human papillomavirus (HPV). Differentiated VIN is less common, usually appearing in older women, and is not associated with HPV. Differentiated VIN often arises in women who have a skin condition called lichen sclerosus, and this kind of VIN can develop into a fast-moving, aggressive squamous cancer. See Risk Factors and Prevention to learn more about HPV, precancerous conditions of the vulva, and lichen sclerosus.

Hi Elmslav,

Thank you so much for your very informative reply. Having experienced a lot of the symptoms described ( tested and cleared ), your post drew my attention. Yes, it's surprising how many people don't actually know what or where the vulva is, and even as adults continue to use what I call baby words....

Linda X 

Linda + Elmslac, 

I had never heard of it either until googling symptoms! This is why I shouldn’t be googling! I’m sure doctors know what they are looking for and I should trust in that - google is terribly scary. This forum, however is amazing.  I hope all who feel lost find you all. 

I have a lot of things happen right before burning started (starting oral progesterone is one) I’ve been told it can cause burning by one doctor and no by another - don’t want to stop taking it untiI see the gyno doc. This has been a long year dealing with what turned out to be hormones!! Thought I was losing my mind! That’s a whole other forum!  Now - dealing with the burning

What symptoms did you have Linda if you don’t mind me asking?

Thank you ladies

Suedoug, I keep forgetting to mention to you I am also on oral progesterone pill, an estradol patch, and premarin cream. When I tried chemo and radiation two years ago this month the chemo through me right into menopause.

Lisa

No problem Linda and if you have any questions or just need to talk please let me know. Unfortunately I am kind of a veteran with VIN and Vulvar Cancer.

Sincerely, Lisa

Oh no! Sorry to hear - that’s no fun at all. I hated doing the Premarin cream but thought it would correct the burning - but I only lasted 8 days - it irritated the area big time!! Progesterone has been wonderful / helps me sleep at night :) 

How are you doing now Lisa?

The estradol patch worked great during treatments but the past 4 months I started getting horrid hot flashes again so meds had to be upped to help hormones. I take my progesterone at night too. I mainly use the premarin cream to replace the clobetosol steroid if at all possible because he premarin helps to build the tissue stronger and mine is a complete mess after radiation.

You asked how I am now; emotionally I heal every day because my life is completely different now. Chemo and radiation didn't work for me so unfortunately I've had to have more and more surgeries. My family is amazing and I find this site and one other that I'm a part of theraputic for me. I like sharing ideas from my experience and mostly I love building women up letting them know they are braver than they ever thought possible and if they are having a bad day or hurting, just ask, we will all be here for them.

You take care,
Lisa