spot on perineum

Body: 

HI all,
I've noticed recently that a little spot on my perineum, either on or right next to where i had a tear, has gotten darker. eek! not good. going to make an appointment to see the doctor, but my great fear is what if they need to do a biopsy or remove it--it's my perineum! can it be done w/o completely destroying what's left of my tiny perineum, and what does that mean for my POP? of all the places... I'm starting to apply a cream called Perrins which has apparently helped some people with abnormal moles / skin cancers etc, worth a try. but as i have a history of LS (docs don't think it's active despite ongoing itch!) they would, i imagine, want to investigate. and based on where it is clearly i don't want it spreading...
any wisdom on my poor perineum?
thanks
Kiki

Find out what they want to do to investigate it. You can always say no as a backstop. They cannot do anythng to you without your permission.

Don't think about all the horrible possibilities. Just get it checked. Even if they think it might be cancerous, get another opinion or two before you let them cut you up. Also find out how much cutting they want to do, and how they will preserve your perineum.

Personally, I share your concern. I wouldn't be letting them too close with anything sharp.

Remember that they always tell you their worst fears, which are *usually* wrong, therefore avoiding a 'disappointed' patient when they finally have a diagnosis for you. Nothing is certain until it is certain. Don't panic. Just breathe.

If they still want to cut you up they will need good reason. Check out Christiane Northrup, Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom re abnormal cells.

thinkin' of ya.

Louise

you can live without it :) I know that for a fact!
amazing that you even noticed....
but hey- biopsies are usually really small (think mole on face) and I honestly doubt that they will go deep into the muscle layer.
The body really does have a great capacity to heal.
That said, I totally understand your fear- I had a cyst last year that resolved- but before it did I was so worried about them cutting it out. ugh
you can do this.

(((Kiki)))

Vulva cancer is almost always squamous cell and grows very very slowly. Highly unlikely in a healthy girl like you who is not using bizarre medications for LS. Hope you can just watch it, and convince your doctor to just watch it too. Deep breath...

Have you seen the movie that Aza recommended, Food Matters? It's really great and puts a rational and logical spin on cancer, which has been missing in our fear-based culture for a long time.

Hugs, my friend,

Christine

thanks for your thoughts. yes, my preference is watchful waiting with anything, and trying to find natural ways of dealing with stuff. i made an appt with the GP for two weeks time, and will take it from there. gives me two weeks to diligently apply the cream and see if there is any change for the better, and just to give it time to be sure nothing is happening quickly.

they would have to have a good reason to start cutting into me, and you are right Louise, I can get second opinions. i have some other moles (thinking that's what it is?) that have started to change before, and the doctors have always taken a better safe than sorry approach which i don't mind on my back or leg--plenty of skin to go around--but not the same here!

christine--what do you watch for in squamous cell cancers? i know info online on vulval cancer says about itching (well, we know that one!), dark spots, open sores... what is the turning point to worry at?

will check out the film--missed that recommendation!
thanks
Kiki

Kiki, I wonder how much vulval cancer is actually 'just' lichen sclerosus that is misdiagnosed as cancer? I'm no doctor but...

Very few women would have the guts to stand up to a cancer specialist who looked her earnestly in the eye, and said there are abnormal cells, and they have the potential to turn cancerous. It is better to be safe than sorry.

This is no time to panic and rush in, but it is no time for burying your head in the sand either. I am glad you have made the appointment. You will get to the bottom of this.

Louise

interesting thought. no idea. i do know that under a microscope, they all seem to look quite different from what i've read.
i know that if i was told i had cancer the fear of it spreading in an area of so many organs so close together would be very great!!!
i'm seeing the doctor soon, but feeling a bit calmer. my lovely DH suggested another photo (he'd suggested them when this all started to see if stuff was changing) and in a photo, it all looks pretty much the same. i was too freaked out for a while to do another photo as i was sure everything would look so much worse, but it doesn't. hurray! i actually think we should all do this, so that if something appears we don't have to wonder "was that always there?"

thanks for all the support--and will update you!

hi all,
i go to the GP tomorrow and am soooo nervous! i know they won't do anything other than refer me on, but i'm completely nervous especially about maybe hearing "yes, it looks suspect"
eeek!
also who do they refer to? skin cancer team deals with my moles in general, but what experience do they have of keeping perineums whole? vulval dermatologist? do they do surgery--sure they do biopsies regularly...
add to this the fact that DH is possibly pretty much away on a job for three months starting end of July...which means if i need to keep my legs shuts to heal, it's got to happen soon or wait till the fall. can it wait?
i was really calm till i read scary stories about women with ongoing itch and it turns out to be extensive pre cancerous / cancerous cells and they take out the whole area and it all seems to happen over a period of a year or two. eeek! ok, i know, unlikely, but i'm good at being anxious and this is no exception.
please send good vibes for me tomorrow!
Kiki

how are you today?
how'd it go?
thinking of you {{{hugs}}}