Has anyone had Paget's disease of the vulva?
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.
I also have had success with Imiquimod / Aldara
First having excision without clear margins Pagets came back almost immediately
I changed Drs as the UW Dr said there was no other treatment than excision which was going to leave me mangled and completely disfigured. Found a new Dr at OHSU in Portland Oregon
Its a haul but closer than Minnesota or New York.
I have used Aldara for 3 months followed instructions to the letter
It had its moments I was afraid to think it could work.
Another spot developed during treatment. Its a head banger! Went for the checkup had 2 biopsies Dr didnt sound very optimistic we set up a phone appointment for 2 weeks.
I received a call from the Dr 5 days later that both biopsies were clear of Pagets!
It will likely come back but I would rather use the cream than have surgery or loose
my clitoris.
I am 60. Keep searching for the right Dr dont give up
LRCG
I'm glad that the article gave you more information about Paget's, @ameliae. Are you going to seek another opinion at a hospital in the U.S. or elsewhere?
I hadn't heard of secondary Paget's til reading above. I wonder if that is what I have, as the gyno-oncologist said it seems to be related to having had breast cancer. And now metastatic breast cancer after 20 years. Secondary is non-invasive?? At any rate, he says mine isn't invasive or aggressive. So, no surgery or imiquimod. Thank God, as I have enough dealing with the cancer again.
Thank you for your guidance. I will definitely search for Mayo branches and contact them. I had all the internal tests done and there was no evidence of internal problems in the bowels or uterus.
I need to find the right clinic before my test results are ready in two weeks. Considering the rapid progress of the disease, I welcome any suggestions for help.
Thank you for your reply. I first noticed slight changes in the vulvar area when I was 28 years old. It took four and a half years for the correct and original diagnosis about the disease. Using topical medication did not work. At the age of thirty-three, the first two-centimeter deep surgery was performed to completely drain the edges. At the age of thirty-five, the surgery was light and only on the skin. From two years ago until now, there has been a slight discoloration in the same area, I had a biopsy last week and I am waiting for the results and I have not made a decision yet. Given that I am younger, the progression of the disease is worrying. In Iran, there was almost no one except me, or I did not find that he had such a disease, or even that doctors had performed surgery. For this reason, I underwent surgery by the medical team in a private hospital. But I want to stop the progress process and go to a country that is familiar with this surgery as soon as possible, because the disease process in me is faster than two or three years.
Pleae help me about it
I am 2 1/2 weeks out of surgery. It is typical for 3 or 4 weeks of healing. Mainly I find having any clothing on the area is irritating so I'm home only getting dressed if absolutely necessary for appointments. Make sure you have a sitz bath. Nobody told me to do that after surgery and it caused problems. I don't know how anyone could do this 6 times once was enough for me
Hello: May I suggest that you reach out to the Mayo Clinic in the US. I read that there are three locations. Perhaps Colleen can stir you in the right direction. Or the Cleveland Clinic as one of us suggested. I find you much too young to be dealing with this strange disease!!!! I am curious to find out from you and from all of you if any of you had Papilloma Virus? About 25 years ago or some three quarter of my cervix was contaminated by PV. The gynecologist had burnt the affected area and after numerous Pap Smears i was fine. Until manifestations on my vulva 3 years ago and that is when i receive the diagnosis of Paget's Disease of the Vulva. I am treated solely with Imiquimod which has also another name which escapes me at the moment: Aldara??? It is a cream. It has discomfort but it is getting easier... I was recommended to have the clitoris removed and i had scheduled the surgery when my oncologist informed that Imiquimod showed successes. So i tried. I was 65 when diagnosed. Even though no one seems to know exactly about the proper protocol (as not enough studies have been done so far), because the growing number of people affected, research will pick up some speed. As far as I know it is my only foyer of pre cancer or cancer manifestation. Cross fingers. Please do keep us updated. Prayers and happy thoughts
Thanks, Colleen: I am hoping Amapola can be seen at the Mayo Clinic. 37 is much too young to go through this disease. i will respond to her shortly.
@amapola1987, if you would like to seek a second opinion at Mayo Clinic, you can submit a request here: http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63
I'm tagging @chaka67 @ameliae @juju67 @lrcg @ima1survivor @janeellenmc @victoria15 @biancasmythe @lydiamae @bijou68 @joyceinil to bring them back into the discussion. I'm sure you've read their stories in the previous comments and the treatment options they chose.
@amapola1987, I can understand your concern about recurrence after already having had surgery for extramammary Paget's disease twice in the last four years. Has it returned? What treatment options are you exploring?
Thank you for your reply.
I am in Iran. The medical services here are more than in the entire region, but I can travel for medical treatment and go to another country that has more expertise in Paget disease. I want to prevent the disease from returning as soon as possible.