Vulvar Cancer Awareness Forum

04/22/2026

Karla Hardin-Pollard completed her final radiation treatment today—and she got to ring the bell. What a powerful milestone. Let’s celebrate her strength and surround her with love and encouragement in the comments.

Karla, you did it. This journey has demanded so much from you, yet you showed up with courage every single day. Now begins the chapter of healing and renewal. We’re cheering you on.

🔔🎊💜

04/22/2026

Karla Hardin-Pollard completed her final radiation treatment today—and she got to ring the bell. What a powerful milestone. Let’s celebrate her strength and surround her with love and encouragement in the comments.

Karla, you did it. This journey has demanded so much from you, yet you showed up with courage every single day. Now begins the chapter of healing and renewal. We’re cheering you on. 🔔🎊💜

04/20/2026

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. 💜💪🏽

04/14/2026

Thanks for being a top engager this week. We appreciate you! 💜 🎉

Brenda Gregory, Deb Scholberg, Lynn Oelkers, Carole Read, April Evans, Sharon Murphy, Loretta Goldthwaite Baylos Goldthrite, Alyson Lape, Cindy De Roos, Carol Ann Tibbs

04/10/2026

This is Laura. She's urging others to "know their normal" after she discovered an intense itch was cancer 💔

The 31-year-old was diagnosed with v***al cancer in July 2025 after spending months suffering with uncontrollable pain, itchiness and swelling.

Despite numerous trips to her GP over three months where she was tested for thrush and STIs, which all came back clear, she was left in agony.

After being referred to a hospital gynaecology department, a biopsy revealed Laura had pre-cancerous VIN 3 (Vulval Intraepithelial Neoplasia).

The hospitality worker underwent surgery in July 2025 and later that month received the devastating news it had developed into v***al cancer.

Laura then underwent another surgery to remove the lymph nodes in her groin in December 2025.

Now healing at home after being declared cancer-free, Laura is bravely sharing her story to encourage women to regularly check themselves and get anything unusual looked at.

Laura, said: "You have to know what it feels like, you have to know what is down there for you to know if something's not right. I think it [v***al cancer] really needs to be talked about and be advertised everywhere."

Laura was first alerted there may be an issue with her v***a in March 2022, while recovering from groin abscess surgery.

While cleaning the wound, Laura became concerned that something 'didn't look right', due to a swelling in her left l***a.

As it wasn't painful, and was simply a little more swollen than the right-hand side, Laura brushed it off as 'just her anatomy'. Laura said: "I didn't worry about it at all, I just thought it was my anatomy.

"At the beginning of last year I was getting increasingly even more sore, to the point where I couldn't wear underwear, I couldn't walk and I couldn't sleep. I was in proper agony."

After being referred to a hospital gynaecology department in April 2025 a biopsy revealed she had pre-cancerous VIN3, before surgery results revealed it had developed into v***ar cancer.

Laura, who was told she was cancer-free in December, is now sharing her experience to encourage people to regularly check themselves.

Post Credit: Gloucestershire Live

04/10/2026

Will you join us in sending strength, love, and support to Gina as she begins her five‑week treatment journey. This is a challenging season, and we want her to feel surrounded by care, encouragement, and steady support. Your kind thoughts, messages, and positive energy can make a meaningful difference as she navigates the weeks ahead. Let’s lift her up, stand with her, and remind her she’s not walking through this alone.

💜✨️🙏🏼

04/10/2026

Being in remission is only half the battle.

What many don’t realize is that life after cancer comes with its own set of challenges. The aftermath of the disease, the surgeries, and the treatments can leave survivors navigating emotional, mental, and physical turmoil long after the words “in remission” are spoken.

Remission doesn’t erase the pain, the discomfort, or the long‑term health issues that linger as a result of cancer and its treatments. These struggles are real, and they deserve to be acknowledged.

To everyone who has been affected by cancer and is now facing the difficult, often invisible aftermath—please don’t give up now. You’ve already climbed the highest mountain. You can overcome this part of the journey too.

Seek support—whether through medical care, therapy, counseling, or trusted community. You don’t have to carry this alone.

Be gentle with yourself. Give your body and mind the grace, patience, and time they need to process, heal, and rebuild. You have every right to move at your own pace. You have every right to take the time you need to become whole again. You’ve got this.

And to those who have never had cancer but love someone who has—remember this: “No evidence of disease” does not mean the effects of cancer disappear overnight. Please show kindness, empathy, understanding, and compassion.

They still need it—more than you may ever know.

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! 🔗