Originally posted by Nightowl 2:
I worked 10 yrs in OB-GYN, but only had 1 patient with this type of cancer. Her oncologist said that had 6 months more gone by, she would have been untreatable. She has had 2 biopsies with severe dysplasia, & is scheduled for what I think she is describing as a "simple" vulvectomy next wk. The doc said that on a scale of 1-5, she is a 4 1/2 ( with ca being 5). He told her he expects a good outcome. I've not current on this, & can't find info on this for someone of her age group. Do they usually do a lymph node biopsy at this stage? If post op path's are neg or is situ, what would be a "normal" f/u protocol? Am I right in thinking this will be a life long process of f/u & concern? Have they used the HPV vaccine successfully to help decrease progression? She was misdiagnosed for 7 yrs as having herpes, but this apparently is from Condyloma. Do they normally now do this surgery on a 23 hr stay? Would she most likely have a foley on d/c? What is an avg "recovery " time if all goes well with the surgery? I've read the U.of Pa site on staging & treatments, but would appreciate any info any one might have. She is counting on me to ask the "right" questions, & I want to learn as much as I can to help her thru this. This is one of those times being a nurse is not the best thing to calm myself. I don't even know the "right" questions to ask. Do you know of any support group or one that would have info on this? Thanks so much for anything anyone might be able to share to help me help my daughter. It is just so unreal when "it" hits home.
I certainly do not have any answers, however, the following links may provide you with some useful information.
http://web.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/edu/vmy.htm http://cancer.med.upenn.edu/pdq_html.../101038-8.html
You can click on the links or copy and paste them into your address bar to go to the site.
I will keep you and your family in my prayers.
Also, you can go to google.com (a search engine) and type in information to search for.
[This message has been edited by Level2Trauma (edited April 17, 2001).]
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