topic Re: New here - just had surgery for vulval cancer in Treatments and side effects

New here - just had surgery for vulval cancer

JR4143 — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 05:30:01 GMT

Having come home after surgery feeling very sore, tired and really emotional which is something I am generally not. I am doing salt swooshes three times a day but am too scared to get a mirror and look what has happened down there. I received a call from Dr who said removed all cancer and the lymph nodes were clear so no further intervention needed. This makes me feel a bit of a fraud now and that as I don't have cancer any more I should really feel better and get on with things but I can't. I am just so teary all the time. Any advice would be gratefully received. I really don't like burdening/relying on others so don't feel I can reach out to friends (family all overseas and don't want to worry them). Thank you 😊

Re: New here - just had surgery for vulval cancer

Richard1 — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 21:28:19 GMT

Emotional and physical side effects after major surgery suck. It’s like the doctors cut out my motivation and resilient traits. It’s just a side effect of the trauma post surgery. Feeling tired, stressed, fragile and scared all the time is my life now. No sugar coating it, some people cope better then others. That’s my experience. You just have to keep on going, keep on living a day at a time. The clock keeps ticking no matter how we feel. Don’t sleep in, get your daily jobs done, read a book, take a walk, keep grinding.

Re: New here - just had surgery for vulval cancer

Felicity_CCNSW — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 06:26:20 GMT

Hi @JR4143

Going through such significant surgery sounds really overwhelming. And I can imagine anyone in your circumstance would feel emotional and teary. Its a very big process to go through.

You are in the process of recovery from cancer, so please know that you are not a fraud for having complicated feelings about your cancer experience.

It could be helpful to speak to a professional about how you are feeling. Perhaps your GP?

You could always give Cancer Council Information and Support Line a call on 13 11 20. Our health professionals can guide and support you to relevant support and information.

Perhaps others could share how they navigated life after their surgery.

Take care,

Felicity

Cancer Council Online Moderator

Re: New here - just had surgery for vulval cancer

Milo01 — Sun, 23 Nov 2025 05:58:50 GMT

Dear JR4143,

Your post caught my eye, as since my own diagnosis, I have often not known how to feel about it. I don’t think you are a fraud. I think as a society we are told to see cancer as one way. When in reality, it can be a whole bunch of different ways. It is confusing when your journey doesn’t match what you think it should look like.

My own cancer was only diagnosed after I had surgery to remove it. They couldn’t biopsy it any other way. I was told I have cancer, 2 weeks after they removed it from my body. Being Stage 1, I still need to do chemotherapy, but the majority of the treatment was the surgery. The chemotherapy is to get rid of any microscopic cancer leftover or hiding and minimise reoccurrence rates for me. So it really messes with my mind on how I should react to this. I had major surgery to remove the mass. So as I rationalise to myself, the massive scar on my body is proof that I have cancer and have been treated for it. Cancer is cancer, no matter what stage it is caught or if you need to do any further intervention.

I can totally relate and understand the situation. I personally don’t want to water down my diagnosis, but also don’t want to be too dramatic about it either, I am fully aware that others are in much different circumstances then I am and much serious as well.

However, if I am not able to work through these feelings now, they will come back to me later on. If I ever need validation of my journey, I just need to look down at my surgery wound/scar. Surgery was a big life event for me and still is as I fully recover and am able to return back to my regular routine. I experience emotional struggles, anxiety and depression. I experience body image issues and also fear, as I know this isn’t the end. Even when offical treated ends, I know it isn’t really “over”. I have never been diagnosed with cancer before. And now I have. I also did numerous imaging tests, blood tests and saw a specialist oncologist. They are also things I shouldn’t gloss over in my experience. You don’t need to do any of this if you don’t medically need too. I am sure you have been required to do similar things.

I know some months have passed since your post. I hope this reply helps, even if you have figured out your own way. It is okay and valid to feel what you need to feel about your own experiences. Whether that is today or three months from now. Your experience is as valid as anyone else’s. And I think it helps for others to read what they might not be able to say out loud themselves. So thank you.

From Milo01

Re: New here - just had surgery for vulval cancer

Felicity_CCNSW — Sun, 23 Nov 2025 22:48:46 GMT

Hi @Milo01

Thank you very much for sharing your story and how difficult it what navigating diagnosis and treatment.

It is very helpful to hear your words and your honesty, and I believe it is very helpful for others as they are navigating their experience.

Take care,

Felicity