Vulva cancer and problems 6 months after treatment

So I found out I had 3rd stage vulva cancer at 42 yrs old back in November 2017.  I have had radiation and chemo for a total of 9 weeks.  The treatment was successful for my inside groin lymph nodes but my pet scan 2 weeks ago showed residual disease on the vulva .  So I went to see my oncologist and he did not see or feel any tumors but I do have an incision from my partial vulvectomy that opened up due to the radiation and it is near my clitoris . So he told me to put Neosporin on the opening but at that time it was rather small.  Now it has opened more and very painful.  It looks like some of the dissolvable stitches are still lingering inside the incision opening and pus is leaking out.  The oncologist knows about this and my next appt is next week the 20th.  Last night my lower back was hurting so bad I could barely walk but seems better today . 

My question is will I be ok waiting till next week for the Dr to see me because it really doesnt look infected and is itchy.  Is there anything else I can do to help heal it quicker or ease some of the pain . Also, is it normal to have hip, leg and foot pain after getting radiation and chemo even after the treatment was finished March 1st?   

 

Thank you for the help.   Btw, I found out I had the cancer after a lesion formed on my right labia and my gynecologist did nothing about it for years but give me steroid cream.  He did a biopsy 3 years ago and it came back fungal infection . I have no history of hpv or any sexual transmitted diseases.   

  • Hello mpumpkin34,

    Thanks for sharing your story and for telling us how you discovered the cancer - your experience may be useful to others in the future.

    If I were you and with the symptoms you describe, it being very painful and pus leaking out, I would not wait until you see the doctor next week and I would get it checked out sooner just in case. So do give your doctor a call - you can request of course to see a lady doctor if you feel more comfortable with that, and she would be able to check it out very easily and prescribe something to help heal quicker and ease the pain. You could also ask about the hip, leg and foot pain and find out whether it is linked to the treatment. Our nurses are also around on this free number 0808 800 4040 if you have any questions- their line is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

    So don't suffer until the 20th and let us know what the doctor says. If you get a minute, feel free to come back on the forum and update us all. 

    Best wishes,

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Hey

    Are you still using this chat hun?

    Your story/journey is very similar to mine, I'd love to chat about what happened to you, I ended up in septic shock as a result of really *** aftercare, excuse my French lol.  Would love to hear your advice. I had a vulvectomy in September 2018, I'm still only 5wks into my 10wk recovery time atm. I'm only 37yrs old. 

    Hope to hear from you soon 

    Take care n stay well hun

    Jenni x