Re: CLITORIS VULVA AND LYMPH GLANDS REMOVED DUE TO CANCER
From: anonymous@obgyn.net
Fri, 1 Sep 2000 23:14:49 -0500 (CDT)
Anon....for your own piece of mind I would do whatever needed to be done
to get a diagnosis.
Two years ago I had a partial vulvectomy for VIN III (ouch). I had been
complaining about the itching for NINE years...the last general
practitioner I saw (female) wrote me a prescription for an ointment with
29 refills!!!! I guess she was tired of hearing me complain :(.
I finally made my way back to the ob-gyn I was seeing before my daughter
was born. I knew it was not good when the first words out of his mouth
were "Oh God."
Yes, biopsies are painful...but it could be something that can be
cleared up now. Having had both biopsies and surgery...(and not meaning
to scare you), I can tell you that the pain only increases if you let it
go into something that needs surgery.
At Sun, 20 Aug 2000, William F. von Almen, II, MD, FACOG wrote:
>
>At Sun, 20 Aug 2000, anon wrote:
>>
>>After reading her post I have huge knots in my stomach. I have also
>>posted on this board previously about some abnormal discoloration on the
>>inner vulva. My GP never commented on it during exams and when I
>>finally asked HIM, he said it was probably nothing but he would send me
>>to a skin specialist. The specialist examined me, said it was probably
>>nothing but said we could biopsy one specific spot just to make sure.
>>Coincidentally, around this time, I was frozen down there to have a cyst
>>removed. Whoever says a local feels like a bee sting is LYING. If I
>>had to rate some of my most painful experiences, that local gets slot
>>number two. Needless to say I chickened out of the biopsy. Well, the
>>discoloration has slowly increased over the past five years and in
>>between this time I have also asked an obgyn about it only to be told
>>that I was probably BORN this way, when I know for a FACT that I was
>>not. Totally given the brush off...
>>So, point number one:
>>Why am I being sent to a skin specialist for something that sounds like
>>an obgyn problem, probably related to HPV. (I had cryotherapy for
>>cervical dysplasia one year after the discoloration started, with no
>>recurrence for 5 plus years.)
>>2. Why does it appear that people involved in healthcare are so obtuse
>>when it come to a patient's comfort. I don't mean this as a personal
>>attack, just one that comes from my own experiences. What harm would
>>there be in conducting an exam initially with a colposcope? If something
>>abnormal is detected then the patient could mercifully be knocked out
>>for whatever would ensue, could they not?
>>I realise that this is quite lengthy, but the thought of having my body
>>mutilated is not very appealing, in addition to dealing with doctors
>>that just DO NOT listen.
>>Thank you.....
>>
>>At Sun, 20 Aug 2000, William F. von Almen, II, MD, FACOG wrote:
>>>
>>>At Sun, 20 Aug 2000, anon. wrote:
>>>>
>>>>Wow, my heart goes out to you.
>>>>I hope some of the other doctors on this forum express their opinion on
>>>>this issue. I have scoured the internet for information on VIN.
>>>>
>>>>At Sat, 19 Aug 2000, Harvey S. Marchbein, M.D. wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>YOU are very brave and it is so unfortunate that you went through such a
>>>>>difficult time.
>>>>>
>>>>>Glad you found us. I never understand when people in pain, whether
>>>>>physical or psychological, benign or malignant don't get compassion from
>>>>>the health care providers.
>>>>>
>>>>>If your site "members" need a place for info, we're here for them as
>>>>>well.
>>>>>
>>>>>HSM
>>>>>
>>>>>At Sat, 19 Aug 2000, kath wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I have had the above operation after I went to 2 gps and 2 gyns with a
>>>>>>lump in my vulva and being told it was common to have lumps in the
>>>>>>vulva. 18 months later I asked for it to be removed. Turns out it was
>>>>>>cancer.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>After the operation I literally felt dumped. Where was the support for
>>>>>>me with a gyn operation the same as the breast cancer women have.
>>>>>>Nothing was there.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Why did this happen to me and why do people turn their back on me when I
>>>>>>speak about this issue.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I only speak out so that I can save at least one other woman from this
>>>>>>devistation.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I have a support group called GAIN Gyn Awareness Information Network so
>>>>>>that we can spead the word about the wart virus and its risk factor to
>>>>>>cervical AND vulval cancers.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I dont seem to get any feedback from medical people, like as if I need
>>>>>>counselling or a tablet to calm me down. I am in perfect control and am
>>>>>>appauled that this can happen to women and WE know very little about gyn
>>>>>>cancers or pre cancers.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>We have women in our group who are not in the stats of cancer however
>>>>>>they suffer in silence with pre cancers often having some of their
>>>>>>sexual organs be it vulva or vagina cut out.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>This is deplorable that NO ONE seems to be taking any notice about these
>>>>>>issues. Surely there must be a doctor out there that realises what I am
>>>>>>saying and trying to do. We need to work together WOMEN and DOCTORS to
>>>>>>face this issue head on and put the cards on the table.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Is anyone there that may help. I will not go away until someone
>>>>>>recognises what I am trying to achieve.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Please wont someone hear.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>--
>>>>>>Kath
>>>>>>GAIN
>>>>>>Women have a lot to GAIN with more knowledge of gyn issues.
>>>>>>
>>>>>--
>>>>>Harvey S. Marchbein, M.D. FACOG, FACS
>>>>>Great Neck, New York
>>>>>
>>>>>**Note: Opinions expressed here are for educational purposes only
>>>>>and, as such, do not constitute a physician-patient relationship.
>>>>>This information is not intended to supplant the need for you to
>>>>>consult with your physician prior to choosing therapeutic options
>>>>>and/or interventions.
>>>>>
>>>>>**Private emails cannot be entertained due to time constraints,
>>>>>consequently no private emails will receive a response.
>>>>>
>>>>>**Thank you for your understanding ;-)
>>>>>
>>>>>Please be aware that all e-mail on this forum is archived and can be viewed at
>>>>>http://forums.obgyn.net/womens-health,
>>>>>http://forums.obgyn.net/pregnancy-birth or
>>>>>http://forums.obgyn.net/young-women
>>>>>and is accessible to anybody on the
>>>>>internet including internet search engines. This should be taken into
>>>>>consideration before sending postings of a personal or confidential nature.
>>>>>
>>>Anon
>>>
>>>A truly difficult issue for healthcare providers and patients. VIN and
>>>VAIN can be very cryptic diseases, not like cervical neoplasia (thanks
>>>to paps). We can all use all the support we can get here, and I support
>>>Dr. Marchbein in his comments.
>>>
>>>--
>>>William F. von Almen, II, MD, FACOG
>>>Editorial Advisor-Pregnancy and Birth
>>>Private Practice
>>>New Orleans, La.
>>>
>>>*Please understand I can not respond to private emails.
>>>
>>>*These comments are for educational purposes only. They are
>>>not meant to take the place of an examination by a qualified
>>>health care provider. They are not intended to be the start
>>>of a physician-patient relationship.
>>>
>Anon
>
>I agree that sometimes you need to hit us over the head with a tree
>trunk to get our attention.
>By the same token, it is just not feasible to examine every patient with
>a colposcope! Better for you to patiently discuss this with your MD,
>even if it means another visit to him to do an extra procedure. My 2
>cents worth.
>
>--
>William F. von Almen, II, MD, FACOG
>Editorial Advisor-Pregnancy and Birth
>Private Practice
>New Orleans, La.
>
>*Please understand I can not respond to private emails.
>
>*These comments are for educational purposes only. They are
>not meant to take the place of an examination by a qualified
>health care provider. They are not intended to be the start
>of a physician-patient relationship.
>
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