Hi all, sorry if this is a long one.
Im 46 and a while ago, between 8 and 12 months ago (i cant remember when exactly as i had a lot going on) I found what can only be described as a black head on my vulva (not sure if its classed as the vestibule area or not as its kind of in between the inside and outside anyway i was about the size of a nib of a ball point pen and i thought nothing more of it, except i couldnt "get it" due to location.
Anyway a couple of weeks ago, i was shaving using a mirror this time and spotted the "blackhead" had grown to about 5-6mm,asymettrical etc etc I immediately panicked as i know spots/blackheads dont grown to that size :/ I did what ya shouldnt do and researched. Based on its appearance (flat and almost looks under the surface, not raised not dry etc etc) its not seborrheic keratosis (no sunlight gets ther), not SCC, BCC or VIN so that only left melanosis or melanoma. So i went to see my gp who took one look,while i told her of how it had grown etc. she immediately said i was being referred to the hospital and theyd do a biopsy on it. I was kind of relieved not to be dismissed but also a bit more worried then as id hoped shed say its melanosis. I left the room in a bit of a daze. wondering how long id have to wait, so waited a few days then went back in to the surgery to ask if they knew if it was an urgent referral (2 week wait) or if itd be upto 12 wks, so i knew for my own peace of mind, the receptionist read out the letter and said "Urgent Referral - suspected cancer" well my knees almost went. Not saying that ive def got it but i half expected it to say eg "unknown lesion/growth possible biopsy required" or something to that effect. So ive been put on the 2week wait I tried to call the hospital today to find out when as i hate waiting, but it was a public holiday so the dept was closed :/
Anyway ive not even had the appointment and already im bricking it. Usually i think of the worst case scenario so if it happens then its not such a shock, but this is terrifying me if im honest. Mixed emotions. Im already a bad sleeper, but this is making it worse. Now im wondering if the pains during and after intercourse were due to the menopause or not, then the nausea, frequency to urinate, feeling full even though not eaten, sometimes no appetite at all, the hot flushes which had disappeared for months but back again etc etc. Im probably putting 2 and 2 together and coming up with 10 but....this is frying my brain.
Has anyone else had a biopsy down there? if so what was it like? (i hate needles, big woose) Did the put a cream on you to numb the area BEFORE the needle (yes i am that big a woose lol) How long did you have to wait for the results? Im in Scotland if that makes any difference. I have a family history of Cancer, mum had a BCC on her face, aunts on my fathers side and nan, had anything from lung,to breast to ovarian (im certain my nans spread throughout but conflicting stories on that one), which the gp also knows about.
Any help or reassurance would be greatly appreciated, sorry again for the long story (its a bad habit of mine:/ )
TIA
