A WOMAN has urged others to check their genitals as much as they check their breasts, after a bad case of thrush turned out to be a rare cancer.
Pippa Sharp, 49, found she was experiencing recurring thrush in August 2022 – causing a sore, hard spot on her left labia.
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She was prescribed antibiotics by her GP – but four days later, realised the spot wasn’t going away.
Her doctor referred her for a biopsy which initially revealed stage one vulval cancer, a rare type of cancer that affects women’s external genitals.
But a scan later showed that the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes in her groin.
After surgery to remove the mass, 50 rounds of radiotherapy and five rounds of chemotherapy, Pippa is now dealing with a relapse.
Read more on gynae cancers
She wants people to know more about the deadly disease, so they can catch it at an earlier stage than she did.
Pippa, a former brand innovation and awards co-ordinator, from Leeds, said: “I was embarrassed about vulval cancer at first – but now, I can’t shut up about it.
“It’s a rare cancer – but that doesn’t mean people shouldn’t know about it.
“This affects more than women over 55 – mandatory checks should be offered alongside the smear.”
After frequent bouts of thrush, Pippa noticed her left labia had developed a small, hard sore patch in August 2022.
She brushed it off for five months, thinking it was just a symptom of bad thrush.
But, during a routine GP appointment on January 6, 2023, she decided to mention it to her doctor – who suggested it could either be an infected cyst, or cancer.
Despite “immediately” believing it was cancer, Pippa agreed to take a course of antibiotics just in case.
She said: “Four days after getting them prescribed, there was no change.
“I’m really cautious with health stuff, so I looked at the NHS website because I knew it was trustworthy.
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“I had each and every one of the symptoms listed under ‘vulval cancer’ – from bloody discharge to persistent itching.”
Pippa went back to the GP on January 23, 2023 – who performed a biopsy on the sore patch.
Four weeks later, she was referred to a consultant, who told her she likely had stage one vulval cancer.
But she wouldn’t know the full extent until after her surgery to remove the mass, in March 2023.
The 5 gynae cancer and how common they are
Cancers that start in the female reproductive system are called gynaecological cancers.
There are five gynaecological cancers – womb, ovarian, cervical, vulval and vaginal.
About 22,050 women and people with gynae organs are diagnosed with one of these cancers each year in the UK.
OVARIAN CANCER
Nearly 7,500 people are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year in the UK, making it the sixth most common cancer in women.
It is most frequently diagnosed post-menopause, but it can affect anyone with ovaries at any stage of life.
The five main ovarian cancer symptoms are:
- Increased abdominal size and persistent bloating (not bloating that comes and goes)
- Persistent pelvic and abdominal pain
- Unexplained change in bowel habits
- Difficulty eating and feeling full quickly, or feeling nauseous
- Needing to wee more regularly
Other symptoms, such as back pain, fatigue, weight loss and pain during sex may also be present.
CERVICAL CANCER
Cervical cancer is cancer of the cervix, which connects the womb and vagina.
It can affect patients at any age, but the incidence is highest in women aged 30 to 34.
Cervical screening programmes and HPV vaccines have reduced rates and save 4,000 lives each year, but there are still around 3,200 new cases in the UK annually.
The symptoms of cervical cancer aren’t always obvious, and it may not cause any at all until it’s reached an advanced stage.
But you might notice:
- Unusual bleeding, often after sex
- Pain and discomfort during sex
- Unpleasant smelling vaginal discharge
VULVAL CANCER
Vulval cancer is rare, affecting aound 1,350 people a year in the UK – mostly women over the age of 60.
But younger women are being diagnosed, so they should know to look out for:
- A lasting itch on the external genitalia (vulva)
- Pain or soreness on the external genitalia
- Thickened, raised, red, white or dark patches on the skin of the external genitalia
- An open sore or growth visible on the genital skin
- A mole on the external genitalia that changes shape or colour
- A lump or swelling on the external genitalia
VAGINAL CANCER
Cancer of the vagina is even more rare, with 250 diagnoses made annually in the UK.
The most common signs of the condition include:
- Abnormal bleeding, eg. between periods, after menopause
- Discharge with an unpleasant smell or blood stained
- Pain during penetrative sex
- An internal lump or growth that you or your doctor can feel
- An internal itch that won’t go away and pain when urinating
- Persistent pelvic and internal pain
WOMB CANCER
Cancer of the womb is sometimes referred to as uterine cancer (the medical name for the womb is the uterus), or endometrial cancer (which is cancer of the lining of the womb).
Womb cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women in the UK and the most common of the five gynaecological cancers, with over 9,700 people diagnosed every year in the UK.
Its incidence in the UK has increased by 12 per cent in the last 10 years.
The most common symptom of womb cancer is abnormal vaginal bleeding – especially after the menopause.
This irregular bleeding might be:
- Vaginal bleeding after the menopause
- Bleeding between periods
- Bleeding that is unusually heavy
- Vaginal discharge that is blood-stained (pink, brown, red)
Source: The Eve Appeal
She said: “They removed the tumour, and took some lymph node samples to see if the cancer had spread.
“They found it had spread to lymph nodes around my groin.
“I was then told I had stage 3a cancer – I didn’t want to ask about the prognosis, or survival rates.”
After surgery, Pippa underwent further treatment – 50 rounds of daily radiotherapy, and five rounds of chemotherapy.
She also had to soak her vulval wound in a sitz bath – a warm, shallow “bath” that slots in a toilet seat to sit in – filled with betadine, an antiseptic.
‘I knew in my heart it was back’
Once her treatments had finished, Pippa was discharged back to her consultant, who said he’d check up on her in three months.
But in January 2024, she began to feel her labia had swollen again.
She added: “I spoke to the oncology nurses at my appointment with the consultant.
“They were so helpful, suggesting a number of things it could’ve been.
“But, I knew in my heart the cancer was back.”
One month later, a biopsy confirmed the cancer had returned.
This time, it had spread to two more areas – Pippa’s right labia, and her “back passage”.
On March 22, 2024, she had part of her right labia removed – and was referred to the treatment doctor in June.
We talk so much about how we need to check our breasts. But we should be checking our vulvas regularly, too
Pippa Sharp
Pippa said: “I was told I’d need 30 radiotherapy sessions and five more chemo sessions.
“We went ahead with the paperwork, I went to see her again at the planning scan.
“I told her I was still worried about my right labia and back passage.
“She put a hold on treatment, and referred me back for biopsies.”
In July, Pippa’s biopsies came back, confirming the cancer had returned in her right labia.
She had the entirety of it surgically removed – is currently waiting for the remainder of her results before she starts more treatment.
Check your vulva
Now Pippa is urging others to check their genitals as frequently as they would their breasts.
“It’s become a real focus of mine to get the word out there, while I’m waiting for the news,” she said.
“We talk so much about how we need to check our breasts.
“But we should be checking our vulvas regularly, too.
“It’s a quick check when you go to the toilet, or when you’re laying in bed.
“Feel around for soreness, lumps and bumps – note if you find any unusual discharge.
How to check your vulva
To check your vulva, it’s recommended you do the following:
- Wash your hands
- Sit comfortably, with a mirror, in a well-lit room or use a torch
- Place the mirror between your legs
- Start on the outside and look and feel for any pain, soreness, lumps, rashes or changes to your skin.
- Open the labia, look and feel for any pain, soreness, lumps, rashes or changes to your skin.
- Check around the opening to your vagina and the perineum
Source: The Eve Appeal
“Always go to see your GP if you’re worried.
“You may be embarrassed for a few moments, but that 10-minute appointment could be the difference between finding it’s nothing – or catching cancer early.”
Gynaecological cancer research charity The Eve Appeal recommends you check your vulva monthly.
You can sign up for a monthly reminder to check your vulva here.
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