Vulvar Cancer: Anyone else?

Hi,

I did not have cancer, it was just a large lesion from Lichen sclerosus. The incision is almost healed now, it has been a tough month. Now that I have thought about it, the area started a number of years ago as a redish and tender area but my physician never indicated that it could be attributed to Lichen sclerosus. I guess the vulva is like your back or the back of your head, out of sight out of mind. I never look at that area because it takes an effort to check these areas out. I know now to check the vulva regularly to try and head anything off before it gets out of hand. I was diagnosed with Lichen sclerosus in January 2021 but had hip surgery in the summer of 2022 and quit applying the steroid ointment which keeps the Lichen s. at bay.

One more thing…I was diagnosed with “pre-cancerous lesions in the vulvar area and inside where my uterus was. (Had a hysterectomy)
They were removed surgically, and I was told to be examined every 3 years in case other lesions developed. I was diagnosed with HPV in the 1990’s and the pre-cancerous lesions were found more than 20 years later.
Hope this was helpful to you or any others with this issue.

Many women are exposed to HPV and have no symptoms.
Cancers can develop after many years since the time of exposure/infection. Have you asked your doctors if this is a possibility?

Cancer thrives on sugar. I’m doing a lot of naturopathic supplements and holistic cures in my battle. I would recommend for everyone to do some research on healing your body. Our bodies let us down once so we need to ‘beef up’ our health to keep it from reoccurring!

So glad you have recovered. How do you know yours is from hpv? I also had that several years ago, (my spouse had an affair). I did see that was listed as a possible cause on Mayos website but my dr has not mentioned it. I feel very lucky to have caught it early. It has gotten much larger since the biopsy, not sure if it would have anyway or if that just ‘angered’it. My lesion is about the size of my thumb nail. I’m doing a a lot of holistic, natural things right now too in hopes of shrinking it and will continue to take afterwards for reoccurrence. That is the scary part. I have read so many instances where it comes back. Sorry that you have this but it’s nice to chat with someone going through the same process.I had my bladder lifted and some other major things done to my ‘plumbing’ a few years ago and that surgery was rough plus I had complications and had to go under again for more stitches on Christmas Day…I’m not looking forward to more surgery down there:(

Good luck with your surgery, I wish you the very best. I feel like I am fully recovered now after five weeks but have just scheduled 35 rounds of radiation to begin after Christmas. My cancer is related to HPV. Even though the margins were clear from the lesion removal my doctor said I would have a 50% chance of recurrence without radiation so to increase my odds of no recurrence I have opted for more treatment. It seems that the anxiety of not knowing what will happen is half the battle, but I can reassure you that surgery was not as difficult as I anticipated. My lymph nodes have resolved after being drained a couple of times. Everyone seems to recover differently, Hopefully you will breeze through the whole process!

I am in the process of scheduling this surgery. Well, was on the schedule and now have to change doctors. Wondering how you are doing by now. I have done 2 sessions of immunotherapy in hopes of shrinking the lesion so maybe surgery can be less invasive. I’m nervous about the after effects.

I also have vulvar melanoma. How did your appt go? Do you have a plan in place?

I have no proof but as soon as my surgery was done I wasn't craving sugar at all like I was in the month leading up to it

@mdr3 I was told the same thing.