Can Lichen Sclerosus mask Vulvar Cancer

Morning 

Warm welcome to the Mac Community, not a club anyone ever wanted join :-/

Definitely tell your GP the registrars comments and get referred, don't be fobbed off you need answers to this niggling worry be that good news or otherwise.

I'm not medically trained or for that matter that knowledgeable on gynae cancers (my wife had breast cancer) but we have around the groups here for 7 years now and know our way around well.

There are many causes for totally benign lumps that form and from what I can make out LS / LP although non cancerous can over a long period of time cause cell changes that presents as a pre-cancerous condition that can start the ball rolling which is probably why you are here asking about this.

I copied this from a Macmillan info page...

"Women who’ve had LS or LP for many years have a small risk of developing a vulval cancer. This usually occurs in women in their 60s–90s, rather than in younger women. It's important to see your doctor or nurse regularly to check for any signs of a cancer developing. This is so that if cancer does develop, treatment can be given at an early stage, when there's a high chance of it being cured.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma - This is the most common type of vulval cancer. It can take many years to develop. It usually starts with pre-cancerous changes to the outer layer of the skin cells of the vulva. 9 in 10 vulval cancers (90%) are squamous cell carcinomas.

Hope this is of some help until you get much more experienced replies from the lovely ladies here.

Good luck with any forthcoming results, G n' J

Hi Shake a

I hadn't Lichen Sclerosis since 1999 it was getting more itchy & given stronger creams 

Then in November 2017 I felt a lump which I thought was an ulcer or something saw my GP who told me to leave cream off as while it was red the cream could mask it 

2 weeks later she saw me & referred me to a gynologist a week later had a biopsy which turned out to be cancer 

I have undergone 2 surgeries first for a radical left vulvatomy plus sentinel nodes removed then had lymph nodes removed 

So my advice is to insist on being referred to s gynologist it may be nothing but better to be sure 

If your GP refuses put it in writing the request to the surgery & not only keep a copy but get proof of delivery even if it is getting receptionist signing for the letter 

If all else fails & your in the UK you can go private just for the consultation telling them add treatment you want on the NHS 

I did this for something completely different but you need to be checked out or even go to the A&E just don't wait if on the end it's nothing great if it's something sooner rather than later to get it sorted 

Best Wishes 

Thank you. Fingers crossed it will be nothing, but I will insist on a biopsy.

Hi everyone, 

                     I had an appointment with my gynaecologist yesterday & I had 5 punch biopsies done. I have vulval Lichen sclerosus and I'm aged 52, was diagnosed with that 3 yrs ago, when I was 49, but I think I had it before that. Mum had it for years & hers turned into vulvar cancer, and sadly she passed away in 2004 at the age of 61 of vulvar cancer. The consultant said to me 'we want to try and prevent this from turning into something nasty'. Having all those biopsies done at once in a very sensitive area was nasty enough I thought & certainly very traumatic. I'm very sore with the stitches and it stings. Needless to say I'm walking like a cowboy, and use a pillow to sit etc. It's so great to have this forum so people can be here for one another xxx