Hi just wanted to speak to someone just been diagnosed with vulva cancer , awaiting scans to see if spread . Feeling very anxious and not being very brave .
Hi, I've just had surgery for vulva cancer 3 weeks ago. Not feeling great but I am getting there. I had minor day surgery last July to remove a non invasive very small tumour. Unfortunately the cancer re appeared 6 months later and I've now had a radical wide excision and lymph nodes removed. The pain has been manageable and surgery went well but I suspect strongly I'll need radiotherapy which is not the news I wanted. If you have any questions I can help with then feel free to ask. X
Hi Eve11, so sorry to hear this. It’s very difficult, I had a lump removed last July that “surprisingly “ turned out to be cancer. I was diagnosed on 21st August and had been back and forth to doctors since 2022 on this lump. So I was shocked, scared and lacked trust in medical professionals who dismissed my concerns. I had WLE in September and sentinel lymph nodes removed. Thankfully by cancer had not spread, it was 3cm in size so was concerned that it would have spread but now I’m through the surgeries and physically well recovered. I would advise to push for speed in any scans you need and push for speedy results to help with your fear. Once you know the results you can get a treatment plan. If it’s any consultation I was like you last August and know I’m back at work and doing things I love in my spare time. I appreciate now that all anyone has is time, that’s our most important resource. Now I would never give my employer any of my time I’m not contracted for , whereas pre diagnosis I worked way above my hours. Now I go walking or swimming or I write. I am genuinely enjoying my life more post diagnosis and I get the best out of every single day. I have check ups every 4 months. Where they ultrasound my lymph nodes and I’ve had some counselling from Bupa via macmillan which helped. So reach out to MacMillan and speak to their nurses and get all the support to get you through the most difficult time. Sending you my empathy. Everyone on here gets where you are right now x
I really know how you are feeling, having been diagnosed with vulval melanoma in 2023, such a shock to have and rare too. I have a radical vulvectomy in June 2023, removal of clitoris too, as a precaution, plus bilateral lymph node removal too. The surgery went well and, on my first appointment two weeks after the op. my surgeon was pleased to confirm that all traces of cancer had been removed and, in his opinion, no further treatment was necessary. I did have some swelling in my groin, which, after an ultrasound scan, was just a build up of fluid from my lymph nodes. My recovery was good, and any discomfort was controlled by paracetamol, but was by no means as painful as walking pre op. Further precautionary CT scans have been clear. I am now on 6 monthly check ups. Please get in touch if you have any questions or worries and I will do my best to help.
