Cervical cancer & then VIN 2&3

SHORTNSASSY24

Hey guys , I am desperately looking for people who have gone through some of the same issues I have . In October 2024 I had a vertical open abdominal hysterectomy for cervical cancer and not even two months later I happen to check myself and noticed a mole that the edges looked very strange to me so when I went for my follow up I pointed it out and asked to have it biopsied. This lesion had definitely been there well before my hysterectomy so I had went through several surgeries first being a Cone and then the hysterectomy all with nobody saying anything. I was obviously extremely upset to find out I was going to get need more surgery when I had just returned to work , my oncologist wanted to hear nothing about anything I researched she said it’s surgery and that was it . I had a phone conversation with her and mentioned all the research shows good results with the cream and she immediately dismissed me and I ended the conversation there and that’s when I knew I needed to find another doctor ( mind you her notes in my chart state she has no experience with the cream and that’s all she had to say ) . I finally was referred to another doctor who is even farther away over 2 hours unfortunately we have no oncologist close in my area . When I was seen by the new doctor she was all for the creams or laser we talked about how long the cream takes and if it didn’t work I would be going in to surgery during busy season ( I clean Airbnbs ) laser wasn’t an option when she noticed how raised it was and she said this had definitely been here awhile . I decided to just get it out and over with extremely shocked how easy everything went and I had absolutely no pain . Fast forward 3 weeks and I feel a pop and my incision opened, went all the way back only for her to say they can’t reclose due to bacteria so I just have to soak and it will close on its own . Friday will be 3 weeks since that appointment and I’m still having to wear gauze and a bandage , still soaking in siltz and using a peri bottle every time I pee ! I have an autoimmune condition I am wondering if this will ever close I am just about fed up with it and debating on demanding I go back in and have them do it again . I hope I can find someone with some positivity that’s been through the same thing as I am becoming super depressed and not in a good head space at this point .

SHORTNSASSY24

skippingLiz

Dang, girl, you've been through the ringer!

I had a wide area excision of Vin III last year, and I will tell you that my healing was very slow during the first 4 weeks or so. I think I had a setback around week 3 too.

My oncologist said it was a difficult site for healing because it was in the area where so many parts of the body are connected. It forms the center of gravity, and the whole body seems to rely on the strength of that little area. It will heal, but given how much stress the wound is under, it will heal more slowly than a wound in a different location.

My incision was fairly lage, but I healed eventually. I'm pretty sure it took the better part of 8 weeks. I planned to return to work at 6 weeks, but I wasn't fully back until 10 weeks, because it took time to build up my strength after taking it easy.

My advice is to start taking short walks, even if you are just doing slow laps around your house, but don't lift anything heavy or strain in any way, especially in the bathroom. Gross, but if you think it may be a problem, take daily stool softeners or Mirilax to avoid straining. Go commando as much as possible and … try to be patient. I know it's hard, but you got this! Just a few more weeks, and you'll be back to your old self. To keep yourself sane, to limit your access to anything that will upset you or stress you out, like the news or social media. Try to focus on happy thoughts or lose yourself in your favorite television or book series. The time will fly by, I promise!

SHORTNSASSY24

thank you so much for the reply , I’ve been back cleaning since my second day after surgery doctor was good with it and I had no pain or any reason not to work . I was actually just walking when it popped I think the stitches were to tight possibly, but I have stepped back a tad the past two weeks only doing one here and there . When I do clean I get between 15-25 thousand steps so that isn’t an issue for me 😊 You are so right with the area I stressed that so much before surgery that it would be a hard area to heal and I was so grateful when the surgery was nothing I expected and to not have any pain I was lucky for sure . I guess I got excited to early I had no idea this was a possibility they don’t tell you that . Was your VIN HPV related and have you had any reoccurrences ?

skippingLiz

I also want to tell you that although I didn't use the cream, I have heard only negative things about it. People on the boards said it was incredibly painful and didn't work, so don’t beat yourself up over not trying it before getting surgery. Chances are that it would have been a painful waste of time! 💗

SHORTNSASSY24

Thank you ♥️ I’ve been trying to let go of things as I was still dwelling so much on my doctor who did my hysterectomy and so upset I didn’t get another opinion I hear cancer and I just let her do what she said was needed and opening me up she said was the only way. I am depressed about my scar and wonder had I got a second opinion if they would have went with laparoscopic or not , I’m not sure why I get so hung up on this when it’s done now , but I guess that’s just the way I am .

skippingLiz

I can't believe you went right back to work after that!! I literally stayed at home for 8 weeks watching TV in my night gown, and your out there cleaning houses, making me look bad.😆 Seriously, don’t tell my family - they'll want to know why I didn't do the dishes a single time in 8 weeks! Could I have done the dishes? Yes, but they didn't know that 😁🤭😁

You are gonna be fine, but really, if you want it to heal fully, you might need to take some extra time off, and if you can't feasibily take time off, try not to lift anything heavy, bend weird or put stress on your body until you are fully healed. I hope you have someone who can give you a helping hand 🤞

I think it was related to HPV, even though I'd never had an abnormal pap smear. I also smoked for 25 years, and that seems to be a risk factor in developing VIN.

All my best to you and wishes for your health and healing ❤️

skippingLiz

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1722991#Comment_1722991

I hear you! It's easy to get depressed and start second guessing yourself, especially when you've got a nasty scar and a wound that is taking forever to heal. But you did all the right things, and you are going to be able to put all this behind you and be able to enjoy a happy and healthy future. All my best, Liz