(following my timeline of events.... ) I am (now 58yrs old)-- I found out I had squamous cell carcinoma-- vulvar cancer in Feb '23. (I have since reconfigured my whole diet & cut cetain foods from my life, I've started eating more fresh fruits & veggies, less candies & sweets. Cancer thrives on sugar!! That being msaid-->> I had a radical vulvectomy in Apr '23-- 3 of 5 lymph nodes in my L groin were involved (the R 1s were checked, & they were neg) My clitoris was totally involved & both labia had involvement. I started with 2 large lesions (1 on my left labia & 1 right inside the vaginal canal). In May '23, 2 more lymph nodes came up positive, so I went back in back in for more surgery. In June '23-- I filed for SSDI, I started 33 rounds of radiation & 7 chemo treatments. (The radiation towards the end of treatment-- in Sept, was murder on my skin). I ended up quitting my job & picked up private Ins., through the market place. I got approved for Medicaid in Dec '23., & finally started getting SSDI in Nov. The pet scans & CT scan were going fine, into Nov '23. A radiologist read the pet scan wrong & missed a nodule that popped up on my pelvic groin area, but another radiologist saw it. At the end of Dec '23, I had a pinkie-nail sized pus colored lesion on the L side of my pelvic pooch area . My oncologist on Jan 6, '24 dismissed it from being another cancer spot & said they'd watch the area. By the end of Jan '24, I had a gaping hole almost next to where my L used to be. (They're said it was necrotic/tissue skin from the radiation--) the color & the smell-- you'd think there was an infection. I am on 3 different pain meds (ms contin-- oxycodone, & tramadol, are for break thru pain& I also take tylenol & Ibuprofen as needed for any other break thru pain, I may have). In Apr '24 I went back in for another surgery. To clean up/remove more skin cancer that reappeared. The cancer is staying in the pelvic/vaginal region ( no organs are currently involved)-- I was approved for Keytruda immunotherapy treatments I started those in March, & was just approved to also start having chemo again along with Keytruda. (Along with this regimen of treatment-- I started having neuropathy related feet/knee/joint pain) (which none of the pain meds I'm currently on has helped with the neuropathy-- so they added gabapentin... ) (Oh, & my Reg private Insurance had denied the Keytruda, so I had to go thru Medicaid, & got all this approved. My Oncologist Team has been amazing treatment wise, getting everything approved to move forward)... all I can say is I have cancer. Cancer Sucks!! But if you don't keep your head afloat, & Stay Positive !!
@shirleyj1065063 Oh, my goodness. You are been through so much and are offering supports to others here. Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect and thank you for posting here.
You are a testament to how important an excellent oncology team is to diagnosis and treatment. I get so angry when I learn about yet another denial for treatment from insurance as if we are all in this for some sort of cosmetic treatment to make lips look fuller on our face. I'm relieved to know that your oncology team follows up and pushes for your treatment recommendations. It's time consuming for them and likely different for each insurance company but they do it. For you and for their patients.
When will you start the Keytruda?