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← Return to Vulvar Cancer: Anyone else?
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Hi,
I am new to the site. I want to get some thoughts on how others have handled vulvar biopsies. I had an appointment with a nurse practitioner in Sept 2023 for a painful area on my vulva. She said she could not do a biopsy but I should schedule an appointment with the doctor to have a biopsy done. I met with the doctor on 10/24 and instead of a biopsy right then, she wanted to do a surgery which would have been another month to remove the whole inflamed area for a biopsy. I initially said yes, but I now have an appt. this week to do the biopsy. I just can't wait another month to determine if I have cancer. I would like to know the process that others have gone through. Did you get a biopsy first and then see an oncologist or cancer team? I don't want to wait to have surgery, find out it is cancer and then have more surgery later down the road. I have always heard that it is better to have a gyno-oncologist do these types of surgery. I am just pretty confused on the best path to take. Would love to hear thoughts on this.
Replies to "Hi, I am new to the site. I want to get some thoughts on how others..."
Welcome to the club. I too had vulvar cancer. I was able to have a biopsy done in a matter of days. I am so sorry they can't do it without surgery. One thing that I didn't realize until later while I waited for surgery, is that I should have stayed away from sugar. I craved it and ate it and my tumor was huge on the outside by the time I had my surgery. Wishing u the best of luck. How are u feeling otherwise? It is still fresh in my mind ...I had surgery last November and then did 6 weeks of chemo and radiation that I just finished in March. I'm beginning to feel like myself again. Please keep in touch and let us know how things are going.
Bobbi
My gynecologist diagnosed me but no longer took part in the surgical area of his field. I went to Moffitt in Tampa to have a partial vulvectomy. I had no issues with the surgery. I had absolutely no pain after the surgery.
I also have vulvar cancer. A week before Thanksgiving I saw my ob/gyn who did a biopsy and told me it was melanoma in situ, which means it was superficial. I immediately called Mayo and saw the team on Dec. 6th. They removed the tumor and some margins and biopsy showed .5 deep and invasive melanoma. I am having a radical vulvectomy and sentinel node biopsy on Jan 2nd-one week from today! They also did a pet scan that day and it showed it had not spread to any other organs. The surgeon said that the pet scan is very good at showing melanoma in other organs but not great at picking up microscopic melanoma in the lymph nodes. If clear lymph nodes, I will have immunotherapy. If in the lymph nodes, chemo, radiation and immunotherapy. Never heard of this cancer before but have confidence in my team at Mayo.
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Hi Tally,
Welcome! I was diagnosed with vulvar cancer in April 2018. The first thing the gynecologist did after the exam was a biopsy. She then sent me to an oncologist/gynecologist. After meeting with the specialist we decided on a treatment plan. It may be helpful to see if you have a oncologist/gyn in your area. The best of luck. Let us know how you’re doing.