Vaginal Cancer Support Group

I'm sorry no one responded since July. I suppose because vaginal cancer is so relatively rare, many women don't think about it, much less log on to a discussion group about it.
I would be very happy to correspond with you. I have symptoms for which I must see my gyn too, and I'm very concerned.
I'll keep you in my thoughts.

So sorry to hear this. How are you coming along? I have been dealing with Stage II vaginal cancer for 2 yrs now. Going thru 4th bout and chemo right at the moment. Had to have a Total Pelvic Exenteration this past July which has left me with a urostomy and colostomy. But life is still good. Don't give up hope and keep the faith.

so sorry your going thru this...i had squamus cell cancer surgery a year ago oct...left radical vulvar removal and removal of the left lymph node removal...so far so good...no chemo or radiation....i guess it depends on how much it has spread..hope you got good news from the oncologist.

Good Morning Susie and all the Vaginal Cancer Friends. I've been thinking about all of you this past week as I was FINALLY able to arrange for my first appointment to have my gynecologist examine the very suspicious vaginal lump I've been watching. But guess what? The appointment couldn't even be arranged with my gynecologist! In order to see her in person, I would have had to wait for an appointment in late MARCH!! So this initial "let's take a look" will be administered by my gyn's nurse practioner.

What's sort of ironic is that I am a huge supporter of using nurse practitioners and physician assistants in all sorts of health-care facilities for all sorts of concerns, evaluations, procedures, etc. In fact, I have been seen by my primary care & my dermatologist's nurse practitioner on many occasions. I feel totally confident in their care & know they'll confer with the dr. if they have the slightest question. But THIS lump, THIS concern, THIS "what if?" has grabbed a hold of my mind & heart like no other symptom I've ever had (& I've virtually had thousands of worrisome symptoms) and for the first time ever, I am unhappy not being seen by the gynecologist FIRST.
My appointment is later on this week. On all other occasions I've either gone alone for a doctor's visit or, if there has been a specific & serious problem (such as the ultrasound to determine if I was miscarrying a baby---which I was), my husband has taken off from work & come with me. Since this is my first examination concerning this problem, I don't want my husband to take off from work and come with me (if it IS a vaginal tumor, I'm going to need his presence a lot more in the weeks & months ahead). But I don't think I want to go to this appointment alone, either. Horribly, my special girlfriend who has traveled many medical roads with me in the past (& was going to go to the appt with me this week), was herself rushed into the emergency room late last night for a bowel obstruction. Oh dear.
I have several other dear friends I could ask to accompany me, but they have jobs (1 is a volunteer position, but still, it is her JOB) & I'm not sure what to do. It could be nothing, right? I'll feel that I've imposed so much if the "concern" turns out to be a "nothing"... yet I also have such an unsettling feeling (emotionally) about this symptom and if the nurse practitioner's evaluation is anything OTHER than "oh, it's nothing", I don't think I want to drive home alone afterwards.
If any of you have any input whatsoever about this issue (ie. should someone come with me or not), PLEASE throw in your two cents. Female family members with whom I feel close (my mother, my aunt, several cousins, my new daughter-in-law) all live on the east coast or in "middle America", which aren't locations from which they can merely hop, skip, or jump in order to reach Tucson, Arizona in a timely (and cheap!!) fashion. So calling upon a family member isn't a good option for me (one of the very few strikes I have against our nuclear family living in Tucson, Arizona---and believe me, I adore my little city and its surrounding mountains and canyons!).
Anyway, thank you for listening... its comforting to know that someone who knows what this feels like is out there.
With gratitude, Joan
p.s. I've got to tell you: I was plagued by breast disease throughout my 20's & 30's, finally requiring the removal of most of my breast tissue with subsequent reconstruction. Then in my 50's I had multiple breast biopsies on what little of my own breast tissue remained. I had three miscarriages, two ruptured ovarian cysts, & a hysterectomy by age 39.. so in terms of health-related issues of my female "sexual apparatus" , I've definitely "been there". But guess what? THIS symptom, THIS lump which I discovered sitting (and growing larger) at the top of the birth canal (where my cervix once was), is FAR more anxiety producing than ANY of the other problems I've just described to you! And I'm only at the "I've found something funny" stage!! I can't even find precise enough words to explain to you all the comfort I'm experiencing having found this Vaginal Cancer Support Group. No matter what my appointment this week reveals, please know that right now, in this moment, I am profoundly grateful to each of you for taking the time out of your own daily-doings, challenges, joys and problems to take a glimpse at the Daily Strength posts and sometimes write a few words of affirmation, comfort, or/and information. You are an unexpected grace during this very worrisome time in my life. Thank you all, so much.
In One Loving Spirit, Joan in Tucson, AZ

you poor thing ...you've had way more than your share of physical problems and emergencies...i felt the same way when i found the tumor down there over a year ago...i had a friend go with me..and maybe you should to wether it turns out to be nothing or not...you'll be in my prayers...let us know the outcome..you can message me anytime zator

Oh my. Yes. Thank you so much for writing back. As the days are passing until my appt, my tummy is doing flip flops. Also, I haven't had a drop of alcohol for over eight months and this week alone my husband and I have had three bottles in seven days.... a sure sign of anxiety, eh?
I'll keep you all posted... and thanks again. Joan in Tucson, AZ