In order to better tell the content of the article, the plot of the characters is fictional, please read it sensibly
Ms. Wu is 55 years old this year, her family conditions are good, she has children and daughters, and she is about to add grandchildren, and her family gets along happily.
She was about to retire and recuperate, and she herself was full of hope for her future life.
Unexpectedly, a bad news suddenly came to the door and disrupted the peaceful life of their family.
One day, Ms. Wu thought about going to the hospital for a routine physical examination, but who would have thought that the test result turned out to be vulvar cancer, which frightened her.
Don't look at Ms. Wu's usual appearance that there is nothing wrong with her, in fact, she has a small habit, and many people have this habit, but they don't know that this habit is not very good.
It's that she likes to save a few pairs of underwear to wash together, and she thinks it's very troublesome to wash one at a time.
But I didn't expect it to be this habit that hurt her, and underwear just provided a good place for bacteria and fungi to multiply.
In addition, due to the discomfort, Ms. Wu likes to rinse her private parts frequently, thinking that this is both clean and comfortable, but she does not know that this will weaken the resistance of her private parts.
Coupled with the constant stimulation of bacteria and fungi, after a long time, it evolved into vulvar cancer, which she really regretted.
1. How to prevent vulvar cancer?
If we want to know how to prevent vulvar cancer, we must first look at a disease that has a lot to do with it, that is, human papillomavirus, also known as HPV.
This disease is closely related to many cancers of the reproductive system, including vulvar cancer.
With this disease, people may develop warts, and they will grow in many places on the body.
Therefore, the number one line of defense is HPV vaccination, which is a very effective way to prevent the disease and greatly reduce the chance of contracting those high-risk types of the virus.
The vaccine is not only for people who have not yet been infected with the virus, even if someone has already been infected with a certain type of virus, it can also prevent people from other types of viruses.
In addition to vaccinations, personal hygiene must also be taken into account.
Wash the private parts frequently, use mild and non-irritating warm water, if you use lotion, you need to use it under the guidance of a doctor, and avoid excessive cleaning.
Wearing cotton and breathable pants and not washing several pairs of underwear together can help reduce the risk of diseases in the vulvar area.
It's also important to keep your intimate areas dry, knowing that a humid and airtight environment is a favorite breeding ground for viruses and bacteria.
To prevent vulvar cancer, changing your lifestyle habits is also a crucial step.
It is obviously important to quit smoking, because the chemicals in cigarettes have a lot to do with cancer, don't think that smoking only affects the lungs, and the effects of carcinogens on the human body are not a joke.
Another example is to drink more leisurely, if you drink too much, the immunity of the body will be weak, and if the immunity is low, it will be easy to get sick.
Eat more vegetables and fruits, eat a balanced diet, and exercise moderately, your immunity will naturally go up when your body is better, and you will have more confidence to deal with viruses and diseases.
Don't underestimate chronic inflammation, such as vulvitis and vaginitis, which may cause cells to grow disorderly, and eventually become cancer.
If you have these inflammations, you have to see a doctor immediately, so as not to drag out the big problem.
The most important aspect of married life is safety first.
It is best to start your first married life at an older age, and you need to pay attention to protection, have fewer partners, and use protective measures, which can help reduce the risk of HPV infection.
Of course, it is also essential to have more knowledge of science and so that your partner and everyone know how to act safely.
If you have a family genetic predisposition, you must go for regular gynecological examinations, especially regular professional examinations and HPV screening.
If the problem is detected early and dealt with early, the disease will not become too big.
Finally, you have to pay attention to genetic factors, and if someone in your family has had related cancers, you must also be vigilant.
If you are really not at ease, now that technology is developed, you can assess the risk of disease by doing genetic counseling, and then see if you need to do more tests and prevent it in advance.
2. The importance of early diagnosis
Early detection and treatment of vulvar cancer is really crucial.
At the beginning of vulvar cancer, the symptoms are particularly subtle, neither obvious nor very distinctive.
I thought it was a small problem that I didn't pay attention to, and many people found out when it was very serious.
In this way, it is difficult to treat, and the chances of recovery and quality of life will be greatly reduced.
That's why there are a lot of places now that are promoting the benefits of early detection, so that everyone knows how important it is to have early checkups and regular check-ups.
Early vulvar cancer may be a little itchy, painful, abnormal bleeding or small packets.
It's easy for people to take these small problems seriously or misunderstand them for other diseases, and some people think it's an infection or chronic inflammation or something like that.
In view of this situation, it is important to keep up with the education of those who are at high risk.
Doctors and public health officials need to step up their propaganda so that female compatriots can see a doctor as soon as something is wrong and have regular gynecological check-ups.
In the case of suspected vulvar cancer, the doctor will carefully examine it, and based on the preliminary judgment, the doctor will decide whether to do pathology and imaging tests.
Pathological examination is to take some tissues and look at cells under a microscope, which is the most accurate way to identify cancer.
Imaging examinations such as ultrasound, CT, MRI, PET/CT can see how big the tumor is, how deep it is invasive, and whether it has metastasized, which is especially useful for determining the treatment plan.
Nowadays, medical skills are becoming more and more powerful, and early diagnosis technology is also improving.
High-tech technologies such as genetic testing and liquid biopsy can detect the signs of cancer at the cellular level, and it may be possible to intervene before it becomes cancer, which is very useful for curing diseases.
When it comes to disease prevention and treatment, it is also crucial for the people to understand the doorway.
It is necessary to let the big guys, especially female friends, develop the habit of checking their bodies frequently and know what changes have occurred in their bodies, so that they can find the problem early.
Hospitals and health departments should cooperate to organize some activities to remind everyone how important it is to go to the gynaecology department regularly.
Not only to prevent vulvar cancer, but also to the whole reproductive health and even to prevent all types of cancer.
No matter how advanced the technology is, no matter how good the medical service, the sooner it is used, the better the effect, if it is delayed, no matter how good the technology is, it may not be used.
I hope that in the future, all localities can think of ways to let everyone check their bodies regularly, so that it is really good for the treatment of diseases, and everyone has the opportunity to detect and treat early, so that health can be guaranteed.
3. How to treat this disease?
After getting vulvar cancer, how to treat it depends on the specific situation, such as the stage of the cancer, how old the patient is, and how the body as a whole has to be considered.
Surgery is generally the first option, especially in the early stages of cancer.
Surgery involves removing the tumour and the surrounding tissues and lymph nodes affected by the tumour. In the early stage, if the surgery can be done cleanly, it is likely to be cured.
However, if it is advanced or when the risk of recurrence is high, radiotherapy plus chemotherapy will have to be used.
Radiotherapy can clean up the cancer cells left behind after surgery, and chemotherapy can shrink the tumor, improve the probability of success of surgery, and control the lesions that have run away.
Now that science and technology are developed, the side effects of chemoradiotherapy are few, and the effect is better.
In addition to traditional therapies, immunotherapy and targeted therapy have been very popular recently.
Immunotherapy is all about letting the patient's own immune system fight cancer cells. Some immunotherapies have worked well for other cancers and are now being tried for vulvar cancer.
Targeted therapy is a specific drug that targets cancer cells with a specific molecule, which is more accurate.
A new trend in treatment is personalization, where treatment is tailored to each individual's genes and cancer characteristics.
It is up to the doctor, the chief physician and the patient themselves to discuss and find the best treatment.
As we learn more about vulvar cancer, we will definitely be able to develop more powerful treatments in the future, so we don't need to be too pessimistic.
4. Rehabilitation and monitoring after treatment
The next step in the treatment of vulvar cancer is rehabilitation and monitoring, which is another tough battle.
Don't underestimate this period, it is still very crucial, it is related to whether the patient can return to the best condition, catch and deal with those problems and complications in time.
Recovery is not only a physical thing, but also psychological care, and some people say that a good attitude is helpful for disease treatment and recovery.
If you have vulvar cancer, the patient will definitely not be happy, and it is possible to have anxiety, depression or not feeling good about yourself, so psychological counseling must keep up.
Physical discomfort can be seen by a physiotherapist to solve the problem of not being able to move after surgery.
It is also important to eat well, and to replenish energy with balanced nutrition can make the body have the strength to recover.
Don't think that everything will be fine after the treatment, you have to go back to the hospital regularly for re-examination, physical examination, blood test, and filming.
Let the doctor see how the treatment is working and keep an eye on whether there are signs of recurrence or metastasis. The frequency and items of review depend on individual circumstances.
Of course, these treatments are not without side effects, and some people will have some long-term effects, such as lymphoma, urination, and problems in marital life.
These problems must also be treated well, and the right medicine must be prescribed.
Communicate with doctors and nurses frequently, don't worry about anything in your heart, say anything new or troublesome quickly, and don't drag out any bad consequences.
epilogue
Vulvar cancer is indeed quite serious for women, and our daily habits and behavioral habits have a great impact on it.
Ms. Wu's case is an example, after reading her situation, we have to remind ourselves to pay attention to our own body, especially those hidden dangers that can attract diseases.
You know, even small changes can go a long way in preventing disease.
If vulvar cancer is detected early, the treatment effect and hope of survival will be greater, which is a matter of life and death.
By understanding some of the ways of the disease, we can understand how important prevention and early detection are.
If you really get this disease, see a doctor as soon as possible and treat it actively, this is a serious matter.
At the same time, we also have to manage our lifestyle habits and live a healthy state, so that the risk of disease is naturally smaller.
By doing this, not only can the risk of vulvar cancer be reduced, but the chance of cure is also great, and most importantly, the health of our women will be guaranteed.
References:
Fireal Medicine2023-07-12——Interpretation of Molecular Detection of the 2023 NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines for Vulvar Cancer (1st Edition)
Global Oncology Bulletin 2024-05-09 - Research and Programs for Vulvar Cancer Need to Be Strengthened
Teacher Yang Xuefei2023-12-12 —— "A 55-year-old woman was diagnosed with vulvar cancer! Its bad habits are a wake-up call for everyone! 》