1. < Gynecologic Cancers

What can I do to help my daughter with Vulva cancer?

Posted by abotha5 @abotha5, 5 days ago

I am the father of a 40 year old daughter who was diagnosed with Vulva cancer. The symptom's started more than a year ago but was brushed away by her Doctor who said it was nothing serious and to just use some cream. She finally decided to seek a second opinion and was told, without a biopsy that she was terminal with Vulva cancer. She received this news in March this year but treatment has only started recently. They say they cant operate she will die from infections. At last check the cancer has spread to her lymph nodes and one is attached to her pelvic bone. She is now getting chemo. They are also trying to sort out her pain medicine, but have already flushed her twice. I suspect they are just trying to extend her life a bit by trying to shrink the ulcers. So much for Government Healthcare in Canada. What can she do to help herself. All and any advise is appreciated. My heart is broken. She is my first born. No Father should have to bury his child.

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Mentor
Helen, Volunteer Mentor | @naturegirl5 | 5 days ago

@abotha5 This is so heartbreaking about your daughter's diagnosis. You are so right that no parent should have to worry like this about their adult children or fear that their children will predecease them. I am furious that her GP did not take her concerns seriously and look closely enough in order to refer her earlier.

In what province does your daughter reside? I am asking in case one of our members lives in the same province as your daughter and can give her some advice.

I am tagging a few members of our Gynecological Cancers support group@bobette1 @ljchicago @sillywabbit @vsinn2000 who have been diagnosed and treated for vulvar cancer. While we wait for them to come here and post I have provided you with some additional information.

Mayo Clinic: Vulvar Cancer

-- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vulvar-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20368051

Cleveland Clinic: Vulvar Cancer:

-- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/6220-vulvar-cancer

Do you know the kind of vulvar cancer from your daughter's pathology report?

REPLY
abotha5 | @abotha5 | 5 days ago

Thank you so much for your feedback. What upsets me so much I went onto the Mayo Clinic Website and within 5 minutes found her exact symptoms and diagnoses. She resides in the town of Milton, Ontario. I have asked her what type of cancer she has but is still awaiting a reply. She is not herself. All of this pain medication experimentation is causing her to hallucinate. As soon as I know I will let you know

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1 reply
sillywabbit | @sillywabbit | 5 days ago

I am so very sorry to read this. I remain thankful that my nurse-practitioner found mine very early.
That said, I don't have the same experience she is having, as mine was handled with surgery. My only suggestion is to request an appointment at Mayo in Minnesota, if you possibly can.
God bless you and your daughter.

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chickflickcherry | @chickflickcherry | 5 days ago

I am so sorry to hear about your daughter’s diagnosis.

I live in Toronto and, despite the horrific state of our health care, when a mid-November biopsy showed I have vulvar cancer (after years of having a sore that doctors disregarded), within a week I saw gynecologic and radiation oncologists and a treatment plan was made immediately.

May I ask in what hospital your daughter was told, without a biopsy, her cancer is terminal? And do you know why it has taken so many months to start treatment?

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Mentor
Helen, Volunteer Mentor | @naturegirl5 | 5 days ago
In reply to @abotha5 "Thank you so much for your feedback. What upsets me so much I went onto the..." + (show)
@abotha5

Thank you so much for your feedback. What upsets me so much I went onto the Mayo Clinic Website and within 5 minutes found her exact symptoms and diagnoses. She resides in the town of Milton, Ontario. I have asked her what type of cancer she has but is still awaiting a reply. She is not herself. All of this pain medication experimentation is causing her to hallucinate. As soon as I know I will let you know

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@abotha5 I so sad as I read this. She must be in a lot of pain. So your daughter is in the Toronto area in southern Ontario? Do you know if she is now seen locally in her town by an oncologist? If so can she get into a major medical center in Toronto to be seen? Or does she have to stay within her region for care and needs a referral to go somewhere else?

In the U.S., we often recommend the National Cancer Institute designated cancer centers. Mayo Clinic is on this list.

-- https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers

Here is a Canadian list by province.

Canadian Cancer Centres:

-- https://comp-ocpm.ca/english/career-education/career-resources/canadian-cancer-centres.html

The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre is university-affiliated and keeps coming up.

-- https://comp-ocpm.ca/english/career-education/career-resources/canadian-cancer-centres.html

I am going to tag @colleenyoung as she may have other suggestions for you.

Are you located near your daughter?

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