VACO

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/ 

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.