A vulval cancer survivor has been using her harrowing experience with one particular symptom as a means of raising awareness of the scarcely-discussed strain of the disease.
Teresa recently shared her story with the United States' Centre for Disease Prevention in an attempt to shed light on the various other indicators of cancer in women's intimate regions.
She claimed that, whilst at the height of her career as a higher education administrator in 2010, she noticed a peculiar new addition to her nether-regions after becoming romantically-involved with her partner.
Advert
"I was a first-generation college student who wanted to help other first-generation college students understand that education is the great equaliser," she recalled of the time.
"I had a wonderful career which provided me with addresses in seven different states and allowed me to travel to five different countries.
"But I gave it up for love, and returned to my native Illinois last year."
Advert
Whilst engaged in her physical relationship, Teresa spotted what she believed to be an infected ingrown hair on my vulva.
"I get them often, but this stubborn bump was different," she continued. "It wasn't red or inflamed, and it didn't hurt."
The administrator claims that, upon further investigation, she realised she couldn't actually see a hair in the area.
"It was big and hard and round, much like a wart," she recalled. "I thought that it had to be an infected hair bump.
Advert
"I really thought nothing of it and only called my doctor to have it removed after a month of trying to figure out how to 'pop' it."
Because the lump 'annoyed' her, however, Teresa sought medical advice on the issue, booking in a non-emergency visit with her gynaecologist.
Six weeks later, and she had her diagnosis.
Though her doctor reportedly informed her that the lump was 'nothing that I should be worried about', he informed it was very likely cancerous.
Advert
"He said I had 'a little bit of cancer, kind of like a skin cancer', and that we needed to schedule an outpatient procedure to have it removed," she recalled. "Still, I heard the word 'cancer' and kept trying to figure out what a 'little bit of cancer' should feel like."
Teresa - who claimed she had 'no symptoms' of vulval cancer other than the spot - then scheduled her surgery, what is described as a wide lateral excision, for exactly a month after her diagnosis.
Following the procedure, however, her gynaecologist reportedly called to tell her that the cancer of her genitalia 'was a little deeper than anticipated', adding that he 'wasn't sure he got it all.'
Advert
Beginning to panic, she demanded more details on her condition - which can affect the lips surrounding the vagina (also known as the labia minora and labia majora), the clitoris, or the Bartholin's glands (two small glands each side of the vagina).
"What was the exact name of the cancer?" Teresa recalled asking. "What did he mean when he said he didn't get it all? Who is the best gynecologic oncologist in the area?"
Her second surgery - another wide lateral excision and a node dissection - took place a month later, after which she was informed by her gynaecological oncologist that the cancer was more than 2.5 cm, and that it had likely spread.
In the months that followed, she underwent both radiation and chemotherapy.
Teresa claimed that medics warned her that, whilst her women's health diagnosis was considered extremely rare - 'especially for 40-year-old Black women' - it can become aggressively quickly, so early treatment is a must.
Thankfully, in her case, the treatment was successful.
"I was thrilled when I learned the cancer had not spread to my lymph nodes," she confessed. "And with regular follow-ups and screenings, the long-term prognosis is good."
Teresa claims her cancer was prompted by a HPV diagnosis (human papillomavirus) she was diagnosed with 15 years earlier - a theory many healthcare professionals believe.
She is now urging others to check themselves out regularly, and not to be afraid of raising an intimate health issue with their doctor.
"Vulvar cancer might manifest in a way that causes shame, because you could conclude that you have an STD (sexually transmitted disease) and not want to get that embarrassing news," she explained.
"But I'd much rather be embarrassed and alive than modest and dead. Early detection is key."
Topics: Health, Life, Real Life, True Life, Women's Health, Sex and Relationships
Rhianna Benson