Has anyone had Paget's disease of the vulva?

Posted by chaka67 @chaka67, Apr 18, 2023

I am about to have my 6th vulva surgery for Paget's of the vulva in less than 10 years. That means for about a month after surgery I cannot drive, sit or walk, & I am the my husband's caregiver.
I also had a mastectomy 10 years ago, but was told they were unrelated. Also unrelated is any support for Paget's disease. They have marches for breast cancer. Yet I have never met someone with Paget's. Even this message box underlines the word Paget's as if I am misspelling the word!!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Gynecologic Cancers Support Group.

Profile picture for oktave20 @oktave20

@bouf1948 Yes, I was able to continue as normal. Some days I didn’t want to do these things but if I had to go and get groceries I could. I even looked after my grandchild one day a week with my husbands help. At present it has cleared but if I see signs of a return I will use the cream again. I’m a little worried that there may be a primary somewhere else in my body. I have had a PET scan only, but would like an MRI on my organs just to stop the doubt. Would love to know what pre-op checks anyone has had.

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@oktave20 did you find anything to help with the pain? Any kind of help would be appreciated- the dr told me we would use cream after surgery

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Profile picture for bouf1948 @bouf1948

@oktave20 did you find anything to help with the pain? Any kind of help would be appreciated- the dr told me we would use cream after surgery

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@bouf1948 when it became more pain and burning I took an ibeprofen and put some Greek yoghurt on the good skin in my vulva to ease the burning. Help for a while but not long enough. Nothing else used so I feel the pain from the cream is far less than what I have read about surgery.

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I read on this website to put organic honey on the wound. I asked my surgeon and he said no. I’m putting triple antibiotic ointment on my wounds. Today I can say I have noticed a slight decrease in my pain - I’m on day 11 after surgery. I don’t think I could go through this again.

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I can walk - I’m on day 11 post surgery - the sitting and getting up have been bad. I haven’t had any help, so I’ve had to do everything myself. I truly don’t know how you’ve endured so many surgeries. Have some of them been smaller than others. Have you used cream?

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Profile picture for oktave20 @oktave20

@bouf1948 Yes, I was able to continue as normal. Some days I didn’t want to do these things but if I had to go and get groceries I could. I even looked after my grandchild one day a week with my husbands help. At present it has cleared but if I see signs of a return I will use the cream again. I’m a little worried that there may be a primary somewhere else in my body. I have had a PET scan only, but would like an MRI on my organs just to stop the doubt. Would love to know what pre-op checks anyone has had.

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@oktave20 update: my stitches broke open and I have a gaping wound. They are letting it heal on its own rather than put new stitches in. Intense pain, and I can’t locate pain meds because of crackdown.

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Profile picture for bouf1948 @bouf1948

@oktave20 update: my stitches broke open and I have a gaping wound. They are letting it heal on its own rather than put new stitches in. Intense pain, and I can’t locate pain meds because of crackdown.

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@bouf1948 I am so, so sorry. May it heal quickly. I don't understand why you can't get pain meds. That's cruel by the wounds of it.

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Profile picture for bouf1948 @bouf1948

@foster14 this was a very painful surgery - not like yours. I was operated on Monday at 7:30 am, and I spent two nights in the hospital. I came home today. I don’t feel I was ready to come home. I am having trouble sitting and getting up. I had a left side vulvectomy with laser back to the anus. I need a shower, but I don’t dare attempt that alone. Home health care is coming tomorrow. If it comes back, I’m wondering if it will be as painful next time.

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@bouf1948. Your surgery must have been more intense than mine. I caught it early and had a biopsy to confirm it. I was told I could shower every day. I also used a stiz bath which helped. It is a bowl like object that fits under the toilet seat and you put warm water in it and soak. You can get one at a place that has a medical supplies or order one from Amazon. I got one at a Kroger store.

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Profile picture for bouf1948 @bouf1948

@oktave20 update: my stitches broke open and I have a gaping wound. They are letting it heal on its own rather than put new stitches in. Intense pain, and I can’t locate pain meds because of crackdown.

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@bouf1948
My dr prescribe Narco for me which is Vicadin and Tylanol. You can also take Advil with it. Talk to your dr he should be able to help. Also cold packs helped me.

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Profile picture for foster14 @foster14

@bouf1948. Your surgery must have been more intense than mine. I caught it early and had a biopsy to confirm it. I was told I could shower every day. I also used a stiz bath which helped. It is a bowl like object that fits under the toilet seat and you put warm water in it and soak. You can get one at a place that has a medical supplies or order one from Amazon. I got one at a Kroger store.

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@foster14 I’d had it two years that I know of. I thought it was an irritation from my underwear. The doctor didn’t biopsy it, and she prescribed steroid cream. Fast forward a couple more doctors and I was told to use Vaseline, diaper rash cream, etc. the surgery is extensive and they used a laser, also. I had 30 stitches that pulled apart after two weeks and I now have an open wound. The doctor is letting it heal in its own. I’m glad you caught yours early. This is a nightmare - especially since they don’t know if they got it all, and it recurs. They didn’t use mapping - they got what they could see.

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You were right about saying you couldn’t do anything for a month. It’s been 3 weeks today for me. I still can’t drive, etc. was your first surgery the worst? Have you used the cream?

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