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Diagnosed with vulval cancer but now cancer free but someone referred to it as 'the dirty cancer'. I was told it was caused by DNA. Who is right?

Cbb
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I have been treated for vulva cancer I am now cancer free but while at the hospital for cancer a patient asked me which cancer I had when I told her she said oh the dirty cancer , but the cancer doctor said it was DNA that caused it who is right because I can’t get it out of my head

  • Hi CBB

    Who do you believe?  some halfwit random stranger or a fully qualified doctor with years of training. Rejoice that the cancer has gone and dont let that uninformed comment spoil your happiness.

    Ed

  • Hi Cbb, and thank you for your post.

    Thank you for sharing how you’re feeling. I’m so sorry someone said that to you – that must have been very upsetting. Please know that vulval cancer is not a “dirty” cancer. You cannot catch cancer, and it is not caused by being unclean or being promiscuous.

    Most vulval cancers happen because of changes in the body’s cells (DNA). Sometimes these changes are linked to a virus called HPV, and sometimes they occur for other reasons, like age or certain skin conditions. None of this is your fault – you did nothing wrong.

    We have information on the risks and causes of vulval cancer on our website.

    The most important thing is that you are now cancer-free, and that’s something to feel proud of. If these thoughts keep worrying you or you’d like to talk more.

    It might help to talk things through with one of our nurses on the helpline. You can call for free on 0808 800 4040, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

    Kind regards

    Tina

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