What is Vulvar Cancer
Cancer of the vulva (also known as vulvar cancer) most often affects the inner edges of the labia majora or the labia minora. Less often, cancer occurs on the clitoris or in Barth...
Join Now
|
Papilloma vs...? Should a biopsy be done????!!!!
|
Watch this |
| View More Posts Ignore |
am 35 years old. I had my last annual examination this past spring, and everything was normal. I discovered a whitish bump/protrusion on my outer labia in August. I recently went to the OBGYN, who wasn't sure but thought it could be a squamous papilloma (wart). But, he said he wasn't completely convinced.
He added acetic acid, and the protrustion as well as some surrounding (flat) tissue turned bright white. The total area is about the size of a pencil eraser. He added some TCA to burn it off, and I am to return in two weeks. He recommended the acid over biopsy at this point. frankly, it kind of does look like a wart, althoug the surrounding white areas are flat. BUT, squamous cell carcinoma can look like a wart... I have only ever been with my husband and have been married for over 5 years. My husband was with one other person prior to our marriage. I tested negative for HPV twice since I met my husband; I am assuming this was the high-risk HPV. All of my pap smears have been normal exept for one ascus years ago, which resolved. My husband is in the medical field and very knowledgable, and he has never had any symptoms. With my doctor thinking this was HPV-related, he said that "stranger things have been known to happen." While I realize that is possible.... Should I get a second opinion? I am terrified that this could be cancer and would just rather have it excised. (I have a long list of breast cancer in my family...including younger people as young as 32 (but BRCA negative!)...and the thought of having cancer...there...just terrifies me.) At the same time, I have seen this OBGYN for five years, he took care of me during a very difficult pregnancy and delivered my child, and I trust him. But, his lack of concern...concerns me. Do you get a second opinion from someone in the same practice? Going elsewhere would requires some travel. I'm guessing I would have to pay out of pocket for s second opinion...or do you come up with a "reason" an see someone else for a "problem"? I just don't know what to do. I have scoured the internet and the only 'pictures' I can find are of the advanced stages and nothing that really looks like mine. Posted on 09/23/09, 09:09 am |
| 2 Replies | Add Your Advice |
| View More Posts Ignore |
LilyLou, I had a dime size area that was lavender blue but did have some white. I had no itching or symptoms of any kind. I had it excised and it was Squamous Cell Carcinoma Grade 3. 2 Doctors kept saying it was "nothing". I am HPV negative. I have been tested 3 times for HPV and all time negative. Mine was not a wart and it is never good to assume a growth is a wart. I would get a 2nd opinion and have a Dermatologist or another gynocologist take a look. Remember vaginal/vulvar cancer is not common so many Obgyn's do not know much about it. If it starts to come back make sure they cut if off and send it for pathology. Mine turned out to be plain and simple a skin cancer but it is where the sun don't shine. I have to be checked frequently.
When you say his "lack of concern"? that concerns me. I say go with your gut feeling. You need to tell him to excise it or see someone else. I went through 3 Doctors before I ended up at MD Anderson Cancer center. Hopefully it is nothing and just a wart or simple growth but do not take any chances. It is so simple to cut it out and send to a lab just to be sure. You should have a colposcopy also to make sure you do not have any further up inside you. Feel free to email me anytime. My paps have always been fine, no symptoms, hpv neg, then this growth popped up. It can happen. The best to you. Oleander 
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts Ignore |
Also every Doctor will assume all vaginal cancers vulvar cancers are HPV related. Not so. In fact the non HPV Vulvar cancers can be much more aggressive so I am told by my Gyne Onc at MD. You will hear HPV and Warts and cancer connected. This is true for some people but not all. I have had lengthy talks about this over at MD Anderson.
Be your own advocate. I never found a picture like my Squamous cell on the internet. Take a picture of you growth so you can see it later incase you need to show it to another Doctor. Once it is gone it is hard to describe it.
|
|
|
|
||
| Add Your Advice |
