Vulvar Cancer Awareness Forum

04/02/2026

We hear countless stories from people who were overlooked, unheard, or dismissed in medical settings. These experiences are not “overreactions.” They are signals. And learning to recognize them is part of protecting your health and reclaiming your power.

Here are some red flags to pay attention to:

🚩 Dismisses & Minimizes Symptoms

When a provider responds with “that’s normal,” “it’s just stress,” or “you’re fine” without asking deeper questions or performing an exam, that’s not care. Your lived experience matters. Your pain matters.

🚩 Skips essential physical exams

A provider cannot diagnose what they never examined. If you report symptoms and the appropriate physical exam is not performed, that’s a gap in care, and it’s valid to question it.

🚩 Refuses or Delays Necessary Testing

You deserve clarity. If you ask about imaging, labs, or biopsies and the provider dismisses the need without offering a clear medical rationale, that’s a concern. You’re allowed to advocate for further evaluation.

🚩 Rushes, Interrups or Talks Over You

Your appointment is not a race. If you can’t finish a sentence or your questions are met with impatience, that’s not patient‑centered care.

🚩 Makes you Feel Ashamed, Judged, or Uncomfortable

Healthcare should never make you feel small. Comments that are dismissive, condescending, or rooted in bias, especially around pain, sexual health, weight, trauma, or identity, are unacceptable.

🚩 Doesn't Explain Your Diagnosis or Treatment Plan

You should leave your appointment with clarity, not confusion. If you’re handed a plan without explanation, that’s a communication failure, not a personal one.

🚩 They Discourage Second Opinions

A confident, ethical provider welcomes collaboration. If a provider reacts defensively when you seek another perspective, that’s a red flag.

🚩 They Ignore your History or Lived Experience

Your story is data. Your symptoms are data. Your intuition is data.When a provider dismisses what you know about your own body, that’s a sign to pause and reassess.

You deserve thorough, compassionate, evidence based care, and you deserve to be heard.

NEVER BE AFRAID TO ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF!

04/02/2026

Sometimes we don’t really know how to check our v***as, so here’s a simple, real‑life way to do it.

First, take a deep breath, and look at this as part of your self-care routine rather than an uncomfortable task. When you're ready, begin by getting into whatever position helps you actually see everything — standing, squatting, sitting over a handheld mirror, or lying back on your bed with your legs open. Whatever feels easiest and comfortable for you.

Now take a slow look around:

✨️ Look at the area where your p***c hair grows. Notice any moles, spots, bumps, rashes, white patches, red spots, pimples, moles, lumps, or anything that just looks “new” or “off.”

✨️ Find your cl****is and check for any bumps, growths, moles, lumps, white or red raised patches, or other changes in color.

✨️ Look at your l***a majora (the outer lips). Feel for any lumps and look for moles, rashes, sores, white or red patches, or wart‑like growths.

✨️ Do the same with your l***a minora (the inner lips).

✨️ Then check your perineum — that little space between the va**na and the a**s. Look for bumps, rashes, sores, or anything unusual.

And here’s the big thing: If you see something that doesn’t look right, don’t ignore it. Even tiny changes matter. Reach out to your doctor and get it checked. Vulvar cancer is very treatable when it’s caught early.

There’s no screening test for v***ar cancer — the only way to know for sure is with a biopsy. That’s why these self‑checks are so important.

Sharing this helps other women learn how to check their v***as too — and that knowledge can truly save lives.

04/02/2026

"Can you please scoot down some more". 😂

03/24/2026

QUESTION OF THE DAY:

What does support look like to you — whether you’re a patient, survivor, caregiver, or ally?

03/24/2026

If you’re living with Lichen Sclerosus and you’re in the Denver area, this is for you. It’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with others who understand, share experiences, and support one another. Community makes such a difference — you don’t have to navigate this alone. 💜

You’ve carried this alone for long enough. 🏔️

Lichen Sclerosus can feel like a silent, invisible battle. Join the LSSN team as we break the silence.

No cameras, no recordings; just a safe, private circle with those who truly understand your journey. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or a long-time warrior, there is a seat at the table for you.

Join our Executive Director, Kathy, and our Lead Content Creator, Jaclyn, for an afternoon of shared strength and expert insights.

📍 Where: Denver, CO
🗓️ When: Thursday, March 26th | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
💸 Cost: Donation-based (Pay what you can to help us keep these spaces alive!)

Comment “Denver” to grab your spot! 🔗

03/18/2026

QUESTION OF THE DAY:
What were your must‑have items for chemo days—things that brought comfort, distraction, or a sense of normalcy?

03/16/2026

QUESTION OF THE DAY:

What encouragement or advice would you offer to someone newly diagnosed with Vulvar Cancer or VIN?

03/12/2026

Video Credit:

Persistent v***ar burning, itching or pain are not always a UTI or yeast infection. If you have chronic v***ar discomfort, you deserve more than a guess.

If someone has v***ar burning, itching, discomfort, or visual sunptoms, they need an exam and a biopsy. Not one prescription after another and dismissal.

📌 Vulvar Cancer and v***ar precancer can be real possibilities.

🔎 A v***ar exam and a biopsy are not optional—they are essential.

Tag a friend who needs to hear this. And if you’ve been dismissed—you’re not crazy. You’re not alone.

🚨 This is why we need clinicians who listen, look, and know what they’re looking for.

🤟🏼 PCPs - don’t be afraid to refer to a GYN

Drop a 🔥 if you’ve learned something and send this to your friend who needs to know!

***arcancer

03/11/2026

We are deeply saddened to share the passing of our beloved Ashley Forrester.

Ashley walked through her battle with v***ar cancer with extraordinary strength. And when she learned her diagnosis had become terminal, she embraced that reality with a grace and courage that left a lasting imprint on everyone who knew her.

Doctors told her she had one to three months left. But instead of sinking into depression, Ashley made a powerful choice: she chose joy. She chose peace. She chose to spend her final chapter in what she lovingly called her “Happy Place”...the U.S. Virgin Islands, with her brother and sister‑in‑law. So Ashley and her daughter, Grace, boarded a plane and began their final journey together.

In those islands, Ashley became a living testament to what it means to savor every day. She filled her moments with laughter, sunshine, and love, not fear. She courageously and boldly began to chronicle her final journey on her page, and in doing so, she became a beacon of hope to others, defying every expectation by far surpassing the time she was given.

Ashley lived seven more months, wrapped in warmth, surrounded by beauty, and held by the people she loved. It was that love, that joy, and that intentional choosing of life that carried her further than anyone imagined.

If Ashley taught us anything, it is this: To face even the hardest realities with dignity. To remove negativity and embrace what truly matters. To live each day fully, so that when our final breath comes, our life has been rich, meaningful, and whole.

Please keep her daughter Grace, her entire family, and all who loved her in your thoughts and prayers as they learn to navigate life without this radiant light.

Rest in peace, Ashley. Your courage, joy, and spirit will continue to inspire us, and we will continue our work and mission in your honor.

Your legacy will live on! 🕊💜🙏🏼

03/10/2026

VULVAR CANCER: KNOW THE SIGNS - KNOW THE RISKS

Vulvar cancer is often underdiagnosed and diagnosed late, but early detection saves lives. Too many symptoms are ignored or dismissed — let’s change that.

✨ COMMON SYMPTOMS ✨

• Persistent itching or burning of the v***a
• Pain, tenderness, or soreness
• A lump, bump, wart-like growth, or thickened skin
• Moles
• Skin color changes (lighter, darker, red, or inflamed areas)
• Open sores or ulcers that don’t heal
• Bleeding or discharge not related to your period
• Pain during urination or interc*urse

⚠️ RISK FACTORS ⚠️

• HPV (Human Papillomavirus)
• Smoking
• Lichen Sclerosus
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
• Increasing age (but younger women are affected too)
• Vulvar Pre-Cancer (VIN)

🩺 Listen to your body.

If something doesn’t feel right, advocate for yourself and see a healthcare provider. Vulvar symptoms are never “normal” when they persist.

Please share this post to help educate, empower, and save lives. 💜💪🏽

03/04/2026

Thank you! 💜✨️