VACO

April is Vulval Cancer Awareness Month 2008


April Awareness Month 2008

Awareness and early detection are the keys to beating vulval cancer.
Share this with a friend, you may save a life!
 
 
Please, Pass the above link on to all your friends!
 

VACO would like to thank Sam at 

http://www.shewee.com

For their generous donation which has helped fund our
Awareness month in April 2008
Shewee have acknowledged how Ladies who have had vulval surgery due to vulval cancer and the other diseases, disorders and conditions of the vulva need this excellent little gadget which Sam invented.

Their donation will be used to pay for Vulva Self Exam (VSE) leaflets to be printed and distributed throughout the UK in April and throughout the year.

These will help educate ladies how to do this important health check and help them to learn to get to know what signs and symptoms to look for.

We do not wish to alarm or scare Ladies, but to educate them as they have been educated to do their breast check every month and encourage them to make this simple exam a part of their own health care in the future.

The Ladies who belong to VACO would like to say, Thank you to Sam for believing in what we are trying to achieve in our Awareness month and for supporting us as they have done in the past.

Since our very first Awareness month in 2005 we have continued to be supported by all the main UK Cancer charities, health websites and NHS hospitals throughout the UK, and numbers are slowly growing now in the USA which is a major breakthrough for the Ladies in the US who have had a diagnosis of vulval/vulvar cancer, or one of the precancerous conditions.

This is a major step forward for VACO, the links we now have on so many hospitals in the UK continues to grow, which mean ladies will now be able to access the website and also the telephone support line across the UK and also Internationally.If they so wish they can also access to the online support group. Information is now available for these ladies on the website, which is one aspect of help Ladies, will always be in need of, and which covers a wide range of information of all kinds.

New information is being added to the website continuously and as often as possible, so please do check back for updates.

Support from Ladies who have been through exactly the same is the best kind of support Ladies could have, be it a one to one , group support, or  telephone support, all of which have proven to be invaluable to all our  Ladies.

VACO have now been listed 2nd on the guide to the world’s best and most popular vulva/vulvar cancer websites in the world.
What an amazing achievement this is for VACO!

 

VACO would like to thank cancergen for very kindly listing us on their website and giving us the recognition we think we have now earned with all
the hard work and determination we have put into promoting the website, addressing the issue of the importance of raising awareness with this
rare cancer and also encouraging Ladies to perform their own health check 
http://cancergen.com/vulvar/

 More NHS  Websites linked to VACO

The Northamptonshire Centre For Oncolgy
http://www.northamptongeneral.nhs.uk/Oncology/Clini/Gynae.htm

South East London Cancer Network

http://www.patientinfo.selcn.nhs.uk/cancertypes/Vulva/wherecanIgetmoreinformation 

Guys and St Thomas’ Cancer Centre

http://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/resources/patientinfo/Oncology/GynaecologicalCancerTeam.pdf 
 

This is one of the best booklets I have seen on vulval cancer! It is easy to understand and has every contact number you will need from your diagnosis, during and after your treatment. It also mentions you will be allocated a key worker whose contact details will be given to you, again if you need any advice or help before, during or after your surgery you are encouraged to contact you key worker.

It also lists every health professional who will be involved with your care and how to contact them should you need to, along with the secretaries details, support group contact details and their own cancer care centre.

Greater MiIdland Cancer Network  
http://www.greatermidlandscancernetwork.nhs.uk/patientinfo/gynae/links.htm

GMCCN  Cancer Network  
http://www.gmccn.nhs.uk/CancerInfo/HelpSupport/SupportGroupsUsefulOrganisations/Gynaecological/NationalGroups

 

  Central Manchester Gynaecological Cancer Service
http://www.cmmc.nhs.uk/cancerinfo/gynae.asp

 

Barts & The London Gyanecological Cancer Centre 
http://www.bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk/Gynaecancer/links.asp 

A leading specialist centre caring for women with a suspected and actual diagnosis  of gynaecological cancer.

 

Other organisations now supporting VACO

The Oxford Cancer Information Centre
 http://www.oxfordcancerinfo.org.uk/index.aspx?o=2018 
 

Surgery Door – Support Group

http://www.surgerydoor.co.uk/sg/detail.asp?Recno=26741219

Wilkipedia encyclopedia
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulvar_cancer


BBC Ladies Health Issues

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/womens_health/issues_vulvalcancer.shtml  

Gynae Cancer Support Group
http://www.gynaecancersupportgroup.net/


Patient UK

http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/27001071/

Londinium Health

http://www.londinium.com/london/21991.html 

 

 

More of the progress VACO has achieved will be available as soon as possible,  due to the high volume of support requests being receieved at the moment it is not possible to update all the new information at this moment, but please do check back for updates

Please check back soon, We will look forward to your return

Thank You!


Vulval Cancer Awareness Month April 2007

 

APRIL 2007

is

VULVAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

 Please Forward the Facts on Vulva Self exams

 This is our second year of launching our Vulval Cancer Awareness Campaign for 2007 which will hopefully be as successful as last years was. Going off our website statistics from the launch in April 2006 to the end of the year, we had over 100,000 hits. Ladies are finally beginning to take notice of our campaign along with many health professionals.

 We had so many enquiries last year it took over 2 months to get all, the VSE leaflet’s out and other information Ladies were also requesting.

I hope you have visited our website to find out more about this rare cancer, and how to educate yourself in how to do a vulva self exam.


It is not our intention at VACO to frighten you but to make as many Ladies aware as we possible can and help you to understand how important this self exam is to do, along with your Breast exam every month.

Awareness and early detection does save lives as with all cancers, and vulval cancer, if detected early has a very good prognosis.

It is therefore recommended by the experts, that Ladies should be encouraged to learn how to do this simple self exam, and by doing this and getting to know how your vulva looks, and what is normal for you, you will be able to pick up any early changes and medical attention can be sought as soon as you see any changes.

If you do notice any changes, please seek medical advice immediately, but please remember this cancer is a rare cancer and accountable for 4% of all gynaecological  cancers.

If you would like a VSE leaflet please email me your details at:

vacouk@yahoo.com


I will be happy to send you a leaflet or you will be able to download one from the website shortly.

Please help us to help all Ladies to be aware of this cancer type by passing this website link on to all of your friends, family and work colleagues and also asking them to pass the link to their family and friends too. Please remember to Forward the 3 lines below to as many Ladies as you know all over the world and ask them to also Forward this information on. We can if we all forward the awareness link of make thousands of ladies aware of this important part of their own health check.

Awarness Saves Lives!!!
Please, Pass
it on...
 www.vaco.co.uk


Thank you, and Thank you for visiting our website



Please read what the experts say!!!

 Cancer of the vulva is relatively rare, affecting in the main, women over the age of 60, although younger women can still present with pre-invasive and invasive vulval cancer.

The exact cause of vulval cancer is at present unknown, but several risk factors have been suggested including: chronic inflammatory vulval disorders, benign inflammatory conditions, Human Papilloma Virus infection, advanced age, smoking and environmental factors.

Vulval cancer can present with a number of symptoms. Whilst itching is the most common indication of an early cancer, it can also signify a number of other, non-malignant vulval conditions and as such requires the early attention of a medical practitioner. The most common symptom of vulval cancer is a mass or a lump, associated with itching.

Other symptoms may include bleeding, discharge and a degree of vulval pain and/or painful intercourse. As a result of recent Government policy all women suspected as having a vulval cancer by their General Practitioner must be referred to a Gynaecologist and an appointment made, to be seen within two weeks.

Treatment for vulval cancer includes surgery, radiotherapy and occasionally chemotherapy, and is dependant upon the clinical stage of the cancer. Treatment is planned on an individual basis, taking into account the wishes and concerns of each woman

The overall prognosis for cancer of the vulva is very good, particularly if diagnosed early. Women should therefore be encouraged to undertake self examination and to seek early medical advice should they become concerned of any physical change in the vulval area.

Mr Richard Slade FRCS MRCOG
Consultant Gynaecological Surgeon
Hope Hospital & Christie Hospital , Manchester

Annette Halliwell RN BSC(Hons)
Gynaecology Oncology Clinical
Nurse Specialist
Hope Hospital & Christie Hospital
, Machester

Many thanks to Mr.Slade and Annette for, taking the time to write this very valuable piece of information for VACO and for all ladies to read and educate themselves on the signs and symptom’s of vulal cancer.

VACO

Thanks to all of the people who supported us in 2007

VACO would like to thank Channel M  for being the first TV company in
the UK, in acual fact in the world to acknowledge this rare cancer in a live TV interveiw with Carol.
It was a tremedous boost to our campaign to have Channel M help promote the campaign and we have had literally hundreds of enquiries from Ladies who were wanting information on how to do a Vulva Self Exam.
Thank you on behalf of all Ladies who have been diagnosed with this rare cancer, and for you helping us to promote the importance of a doing a self exam.
http://www.channelm.co.uk/ 

 
We would like to thank the ECPC for supporting our month and helping us raise awareness by forwarding our information to all of its members right across Europe, please take a look at the valuable work the ECPC are doing across Europe. 
Please visit their website at 
http://www.cancerworld.org/ecpc/ 
 
VACO would like to thank the RCF for supporting our awareness month.
The RCF is not just for gynaecological cancer, but gives support to all of the rare cancers.
Please visit their website at
www.rarercancers.org.uk

The RCF offers advice and information to individuals with rare and lesscommon cancers or to their families and friends, providing a 'bespoke' service by phone/email/post.

Thanks to Dipex for supporting our campaign this year.
 
The link to their homepage is:
http://www.dipex.org/home.aspx

Please visit their website and learn more about the wonderful work they are doing
 
Thanks to Cochrane for supporting us
http://www.cochrane.org/docs/descrip.htm

Vulva Cancer Awareness Month April 2006

 

We would first like to thank Bravissimo

http://www.bravissimo.com/bravissimo/ 
 

For their very generous donation which has helped fund our firs
t ever Awareness month in April 2006.


Bravissimo are the first British company in the UK to recognise the need for our awareness month about this rare cancer, and the importance of educating Ladies about this disease, and encouraging them to do a vulva self exam.

Their donation has paid towards the badges we have had made for April, which will be available to purchase via the website at  www.vaco.co.uk  Their donation had also funded VSE Leaflets and the posters and information cards which, which have been distributedi the UK and  internationally. All the Ladies who belong to VACO would like to say a big thank you to Bravissimo for believing in what we are trying to achieve with our first ever UK National and International Campaign.

Our thanks once again to Macmillan for believing in what we are trying to achieve.

We would also like to thank Macmillan for their donation to fund the VSE leaflets for the month, along with the badges, and also fund the VACO magnetic ribbon which was presented to Carol from Texas by Craig from Creative Signsworks, West Texas.

We would also like to thank the following for their continued support

 BSSVD
www.bssvd.org

British Gynaecological Cancer Society
http://www.gynaeonc.org.uk/forum/sitenews.asp

ICON Magazine article for VACO - My Story
http://www.canceractive.com/page.php?n=1039 Cancer

Northern Network  
http://www.cancernorth.nhs.uk/involvingpeople/newsandevents

Wirral Hospital NHS Trust
http://www.whnt.nhs.uk/hospitals/calendar.asp

Bebington & West Wirral Primary Care Trust
http://www.bwwpct.nhs.uk/whats_going_on/calendar.asp

RCOG
Access to Support and Information
It is excellent to see the RCOG acknowledging the need for Ladies to access support and share information with Ladies who have been treated for the same condition.

http://www.rcog.org.uk/resources/Public/pdf/vulval_cancer.pdf

RCN
http://www.rcn.org.uk/publications/pdf/gynaecologicalcancer.pdf

The Christie
http://www.christie.nhs.uk/patientinfo/booklets/TextBooklets/Gynaecology/vuval_cancer.html

 

Central Manchester and Manchester Children’s University Hospitals
http://www.cmmc.nhs.uk/cancerinfo/support.asp

Vulva pain society
http://vulvalpainsociety.org

Cancer Research UK
http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/netscape/help/default_printer_friend.asp?page=4978

Cancer Bacup

http://www.cancerbacup.org.uk/Resourcessupport/Organisations/Searchall/1611

 

CURE US

http://www.curetoday.com/toolbox.html

 

Cancer and You

 http://www.cancerandyou.info/services/default.aspx?from=%2fservices%2fdefault.aspx%3fstartIndex%3d1%26return
Count%3d25%26searchBy%3dservices%26alpha%3d1%26keywords%3dV%26startsWith%3d1&displayDetail=
service&id=436


Call – Supporting people living with cancer

 


 ADITUS part of the National Library for Health

http://www.aditus.nhs.uk/Aditus/Patients+and+Public/A-Z/F/Female+Cancer/default.htm 


 Western Area Health NHS Trust
http://www.aswcs.nhs.uk/hospitalteams/WAHT/Cancer%20Services%20Directory%202005%20-%20final.pdf

 

We wish you success in your campaign.
Department of Public Affairs


 The North West  Gynaeclogical Cancer Networks, Clinical Nurse Speciality Subgroup. These nurses decided it was time to raise the profile on all gynae cancers and in the first year they arranged this it was a huge success, and has been since.

 

 The following links are all about the same nurses and their continued commitment to help raise the profile of the gynae cancer awareness week, which is usually held in September.They are still working very hard to keep on raising the profile on all of the gynae cancers too.

What these very special nurses are working towards is to give all gynae cancers a higher  profile than they have now, and they should all be commended for their dedication to this very important health issue. We as patients are truly thankful to each and every one of them for their dedication to this

http://www.christie.nhs.uk/PressRelease/2003/220903.htm
http://www.christie.nhs.uk/PressRelease/2005/300905.
http://www.healthypages.net/news.asp?newsid=3716 

 Enthusiastic Students from Holy Cross College in Bury have helped raise awareness for a rare form of gynae cancer as part of a charity double header.

Please access the link below and read about these amazing Students
http://archive.thisislancashire.co.uk/2004/04/29/493283.html

Best wishes with your work.
Women's Cancer Resource Center
http://www.wcrc.org    

Thanks to the following Newpaper and magazines for pulishing our stories and supporting us as a group, to raise the profile on vulval cancer.

Manchester Evening News

Woman Magazine

Top Sante Magazine

Macmillan Cancer Voices

Link to The Daily Mail Health Website 
Thank you for acknowledging vulval cancer and the facts which ladies need to know!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/womenfamily.html?in_article_id=144564&in_page_id=1799

Many thanks to Helen Reddie, who specialises in Lymphodema and how to deal with this, recognise the symptoms, and generally educated us all on this devastating condition which not only has a huge physical affect on us all but also the psychologically affect this also has on us all.

Helen has sent our group vital information to help us all understand in simple terms how the lymphatic system works, is affected after we have had our groin nodes.

Helen on behalf of all the ladies of VACO we would like to say a Big Thank you for taking your own time to help us have a greater understanding of this condition. 

Thank you so much

VACO