Vulval Cancer . . . Anyone out there?

Well apparently im in quite and exclusive club being 50 and having Vulval Cancer or do i?

I had an excision 2 weeks ago to remove a cancerous nodule midline above my clitoris . . Stage 1B apparently . . Im learning a whole new language! But i wasnt told a grade.

The consultant seemed confident to have removed it and left a decent margin and i was expecting this Weds to be told i was going for an MRI or PET to check there had been no spread . . .well now apparently the plan is to take a larger excision and the lymph nodes from both sides of my groin.

Im devastated as a fit and "healthy" gym goer with an active lifestyle this seems a radical step that is likely to leave me with lymphoedema for life without actually knowing or checking non invasively the cancer has spread?

Has anybody had this done or is living with lymphoedema, i would appreciate any thoughts or comments?

 

  • Hi I had an excision for Vulval cancer three years ago almost now. The outcome now is positove. I did have a small recurrence  in my Lymph nodes after they were removed and that was followed by a session or radiotherapy  (this was after a few weeks quite sore but the hospital staff were second to none and gave me an ointment which pretty much sorted the issues immediateley).

    Since then I have no further problems apart from a slight swelling in my left side groin area called a seroma. I am still pretty active I go to  fit dance classes and also Pilates  I have a dog that I walk.

    I recovered pretty quickly although initially it was quite debilitating n the first couple of weeks  mainly bending down. I have not exerienced any lymphoedema in my legs so that is a blessing. I am now 64. Hope this helps ease your worries.

  • Hevs 

    Thank you so much for replying and im overjoyed that you are doing so well.

    Its just the worst area to have someone you dont know or want to footering about with! I suffer lichen sclerosis so while not a definite I was aware this could happen. 

    Its the thought of not being able.to do the level of exercise that concerns me, my exercise ensures my mental health, i have a role with a lot of responsibility and my parents and daughter and her boyfriend all live with me.

  • Yes its not the best place to have major surgery. I also used to suffer with lichen sclerosis. Now seems to be resolved. If anything If I am honest intercourse is difficult but not the most important thing. Certanly you cannot openly discuss with others I felt. I have always had a demanding job and two grown boys but who needed support along the way. I would say my husband was / is not very supportive so I just had to get on with it. Always in the back of your mond will it come back. You sound like someone who wants to keep active and that is often good. When I was diagnosed we also lost our dog and I decided the get a new puppy wondering if I would see her grow well she is Three in December and tomorrow I am collecting another puppy from a litter her sister had. I think it has made me do things that I want and not use it as an excuse. I wish you all the best with  the next steps feel free to ask any questions.

    Heather     

  • Did you have any non invasive scans before they decided to remove your lymph nodes?  I was expecting to have MRI or PETscan etc prior to more surgery especially as my diagnosis seems low and positive at Stage 1B?

  • To Be honest I cannot remember as I got told that It was malignant  then we went on holiday I did have several scans one with Iodine which made you feel warm a couple of ultra sound scand and at some point one where they inject like a radioactive substance thay shows them the abnornal cells as the cancer cells use the sugar much more quickly. But it was  offered to remove the lynmph node at the same time as the excision then must have had scans after. When we returned from holiday my apointment had moved to end of Dec when I said it seemed to have spread first time so she booked me in within a couple of days for the OP. But at about 8 months had a lump in lymph node area which they said had spread so again had surgery to have that removed followed by Radiotherapy  ever since has been fine just the seroma and when I thought that had grown had another ultra shound scan which showed it was just fluid. So basically been clear for about 2 years now.  Hope that helps