Having Surgery

Hi ,

It’s not a stupid question at all, it’s one I wish I had thought about more carefully!

For just the wide local excision normal knickers were fine. No thongs or lace, just a cotton pair of knickers. That didn’t work after the node biopsy though as it rubs. I got some shorts type underwear, that come down the legs a bit. That way it goes past the node incision/s. I have heard of women wearing mens boxers as they are easier to get hold of.

 They like you to not wear underwear if possible, to allow the air to get to the wounds. That wasn’t possible in my case though as my wounds leaked both times so I needed a pad.

I took my own towel, but was offered one. I don’t know if different hospitals may offer different things so maybe pack a small one to be safe or call the ward to check. 

There’s no such thing as a silly question, so please shout if you think of anything else, I’m more than happy to help if I can 

Hey - have replied to you in our other conversation

Hi,  Hope you had a relaxing weekend.  I presume you have had 3 Radiotherapy sessions this week. Just checking how you are doing.  

Oh yes alcohol was involved over the weekend.

So had a panic attack as its one week today until my surgery.  Have calmed down now.

Take care xxx

Hi, I'm having surgery on the 11th of January. Its a half vulvectomy with removal of lymph nodes on one side. I know exactly how you feel saying that you are going to feel mutilated. It's just making me feel so upset. But there is the other side of me thinking I just want all this gone. I don't want any cells being left. I'm just emotional all the time, and terrified incase it's spread to the lymph nodes. Anyway how are you now ? How did your surgery go ? I really hope you are okay .

Hi, I just wondered if you could help. I'm due to have surgery on 11th of January. I'm having a half vulvectomy and lymph nodes taken out on one side. I just wondered if it has spread to the lymph nodes will it mean that it will have definitely spread further. Or will the cancer just come out with the removal of the nodes ? I'm so frightened.

Hi Lleon. 

I am so sorry you are frightened, I felt exactly the same and I am going through a similar situation. Everyone  is different, your cancer may just be in the lymph nodes they are removing and no further. 

my personal situation was that the cancer was originally contained on one side, they were confident they had removed any affected lymph nodes in my surgery. However I then went for my radiotherapy planning scan (I was going to have additional radiotherapy on the right hand side to make sure it was gone) and unfortunately it had spread to other lymph nodes since my surgery. To be honest I think they were suprised it had changed in just a few weeks. 

This meant I am now having full radiotherapy treatment on my whole pelvis area (instead of one side) and chemotherapy to boot. It is so scary and I think it does help to speak to others going through similar situations so please let me know if you have questions. 

Hi helloitsme, thank you for your message. It must have been really hard to find that it had spread to the other lymph nodes after going through surgery. You must have been so relieved the surgery was over and are you now going to have to go it again ?

Sorry you said you are now going to have chemotherapy. It must have been a big shock, bless you.

It is helping to know that you have people who know what you are going through because they have been through it themselves. Please take care and let me know how you are going

Hi Lleon

My surgery is over. I had my clit and a full vulvectomy and it had spread to my lymph nodes.  They removed one side completely and the infected ones on the other side. I am in the London Hospital.  I don't know where you are going but they have been amazing here. 

Its  really awful what's happening to us. 

We can be there for each other. 

I wish you well for your surgery and keep asking them questions. 

Xx