Hey Jazzle, 

I hope this information we have about vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) will be useful but if you would like to discuss your situation further with one of our cancer nurses, they're available on 0808 800 4040, Monday - Friday between 9a.m - 5p.m. They're very well informed and with their knowledge and insight they will do all they can to address your concerns and support you whilst you wait.

Hopefully some of our members who have been in a similar position will get back to you soon, but in the meantime we're wishing you all the best with your appointment. I hope it goes well and you're able to get some much needed answers and clarity on when your procedure will take place.

Kind regards, 

Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi jazzle. I've been recently diagnosed with VIN3 for a second time after a biopsy was taken. I had a wide local excision to remove it first time and expect to go through this again. My last check up was difficult to get an appointment for due to no available appointments so had to push for it as I knew it had returned. 

I would think you'll have the same procedure as I did and then regular followup checkups. Your appointment initially will be to discuss treatment options. 

Hopefully this had helped a little

Hi HumbleM , 

Thanks for getting in touch with your update .  Were you actually given different options for the treatment  ?  Or was the treatment you had what they  considered to be the  best for you  ? Do you mind me asking what is the recovery from this procedure like , appreciate we are all different . Sorry you are having to go through things again .

• The wide local excision has the best results apparently and has less recurrence rate, although there's always a chance of recurrence. Equimod cream and laser have higher rate I've read. My recovery took a couple of weeks til I felt almost back to normal. I ended up getting a post operative infection at the sight which was annoying and more uncomfortable. Such an awkward place to have surgery. It doesn't matter how well you keep yourself clean. Antibiotics done the job. Regular pain relief like paracetamol should be enough during recovery. 

I'm not worried about having it done again as I know what to expect, but I understand how you must be feeling. 

Hello HumbleM,

thanks again for your information . I rang the nurses for the gynae dept today to try and clarify if I needed to hold back taking my blood thinners as when the biopsy was taken I had taken them as normal . Turns out it’s as you mentioned the nurse was very helpful letting me know that I would be offered the procedure you had and yes it will be discussed and she mentioned consent forms  hopefully a day case  take my medication as normal .

It is reassuring hearing from someone who has gone through it and I appreciate you telling me things.  From my very first appointment I have been fortunate to have very caring and compassionate people helping me through this and the process has been reasonably swift . Now I have the diagnosis my worry head is just how long will things take now , you read some scary things ,  the way people have been treated and what they are going through I really don’t know how some people cope with things .

Thanks again and I hope you get your treatment soon ….x

Hello Steph , 

thank you for your update and information , appreciated .

Hi dazzle. Just had my consultation at hospital . My consultant said that as there was only a very small lesion left after last biopsy I could leave it or have another wide local excition.  I'm going ahead with excition as I don't want the lesion any bigger when it's done. (More excised). There's no hurry as it's slow growing and not cancer yet. I can enjoy Christmas and new  year. 

Thanks for replying to me and sharing your experience. Keep in touch.

Hello again HumbleM , Hope you are ok ,    I saw the consultant on Wednesday in the company of a specialist nurse . Consent forms signed . Things were explained some more to me about the procedure and that  it should be a day case ,  general anaesthetic for the WLE . It may not be the consultant I’ve been seeing doing the procedure. The pre op is within the next couple of weeks and just waiting for the date for the procedure. If there’s any chance of a cancellation I’ll take it  . Now I know what’s going to happen would just like it done and over with I’m not very good with the waiting side of things  .  Take care , hope you’re doing alright . Thanks for your updates and info.