VACO

Being diagnosed with vulval cancer is a shock to the system - both physically and more so psychologically. Living with this is very difficult and can also be very soul destroying experience!

At first, accepting that fact seems like an impossible task. Your mind races with thousands of thoughts - the biggest is "Why Me?" and the stark reality is that not many if none, depending on where you live appear to have any knowledge of this cancer, including yourself as this would have come as such a huge shock to find out about this cancer type and then realise you are in fact in a minority and there is not as much information about vulval cancer as there are about other cancer types, but a lot more than was available to me nearly 7 years ago when I was diagnosed!

Apart from having to cope with the physical and medical challenges, there is the huge issue of Body Image change for Ladies with vulval cancer, plus facing additional worries, feelings, and concerns about their femininity and how this devastating surgery can affect their lives, and this can be long term and can make life very difficult. Also, how this can and often does affect your intimate relationship with your partner, but this if approached correctly can be worked through.

Help is needed in coping with the psychological problems of this disease. Don't be afraid to ask for or seek this help from your health professional and a good support group is an excellent source of support for Ladies as all these Ladies know exactly how you are feeling after this diagnosis.

Dealing and coping with the psychological burden of having vulva cancer becomes part of the patient's treatment plan. The support of your health care team Doctors, Specialist Nurses, Macmillan nurses, psychologist, support groups, patient networks and family and close friends can help women feel less isolated, distressed and can improve the quality of their lives. Cancer support groups provide an environment where cancer patients can talk about living with cancer with others who may be having or have been through similar experiences.

Cancer patients, and those who care about them, face many issues, problems and challenges they had never imagined. Coping with these problems is easier when they have helpful information at hand, a reliable network of support services.

Ladies will worry about caring for their family, or just keeping up daily activities. There are the additional worries about tests, treatments, hospital stays, and the normal day to day living we have always taken for granted.

You need to ask for help from your health team.  Enlist the help of the doctor, nurses, psychologists, and Gynaecological Oncologist Specialist nurses. Macmillan Nurses who can all help to help answer questions about treatment recovery, working, and daily activities.

It is always a good idea if you think about any question you would like to ask one of your health team members to write them all down so you do not forget these when you have your appointment, as we all know its sods law once we get into the Consultation room, our brains sadly close down and this can end up with us walking out of the appointment with no answers.

IN fact a good idea is to place the questions on the table and ask your Consultant to work through all your questions with you.

It is also a good idea to take someone with you so if you cannot fully understand everything which is being said to you, your partner or friend will be able to remember the Consultation much more than you which will be a great encouragement to you when they are able to remember what was discussed during your Consultation, another good tip is to ask your partner or friend to note the answers as this will again help you to understand what was said during your Consultation.

You may also need to speak to someone about your own personal feelings which we Ladies sometimes prefer not to discuss with our partners as we Ladies always have this protective side inside us.  We feel the need to protect our loved ones from the pain we are going through as they also cannot bear to see our loved ones hurting and unable to cope with what is happening in your life at that time.

A lot of ladies will not share their inner most thoughts on what is really happening to them, but would  rather share this with someone who fully understands how they are feeling and what is the normal reaction to this diagnosis and what helps to make the recovery a much easier one, with the  least possible stress.

Personal relationships are so important and as a couple you may find some counselling to be very beneficial to you both and also give you a much better understanding of each others feeling and how this has affected both of you.

Don't forget to include friends and relatives, especially those who have had personal experience with cancer, within your support team.

Find a local cancer support group and meet with others who are facing the same or similar problems. Cancer patients often get together in support groups, where they can share what they have learned about cancer, its treatment, and about coping with the disease.

It is important to remember that each patient is different. Treatments and ways of dealing with cancer that work for one person may not be right for another - even if both have the same kind of cancer. It is always a good idea to discuss the advice of friends and family members with the doctor.

Your Specialist nurse at the hospital should be able to suggest groups that help with rehabilitation, psychological support, financial help which is available from the specialist trained Macmillan benefits advisors and your nurse should be able to put you into contact with them.

VACO will be more than happy to help you through this long,  tiring and rollercoaster journey and help and share advise on how to cope, live and survive vulval cancer!

You can do this and you can succeed with the correct psychological and physical support.

This is one of he best documents I have read in the last 6 years on the Psychosexual Impact of Gynaecological Malignancy. The Authors seem to have a great understanding of the affects this surgery has on Ladies who been through such surgery and do seem to have a great understanding of these affects and the full impact this surgery has on ladies.

Quote: