Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus and Vulvar Cancer: What You Need to Know

Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus and Vulvar Cancer: What You Need to Know

Introduction When I (Jaclyn) was diagnosed with vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS), my doctor quickly rattled off some VLS facts to me: it was autoimmune, potentially genetic, and increased my chances of developing vulvar cancer. I won’t lie; this caused a paralyzing fear deep in my bones. Cancer… I was terrified; for some reason, it felt like I walked out of there with a death sentence. Perhaps my strong reaction was in part because my doctor did not contextualize the link between vulvar lichen sclerosus and vulvar cancer. If I had a little more information about the risk and how I could reduce the risk,  I might have felt a little safer and not spiraled in fear for months. In today’s post, we want to provide some education about VLS and vulvar cancer–what the connection is, what the risks are, and what things we can do to reduce risk and take…
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How I Successfully Overcame the Fear of Performing My Vulva Check

How I Successfully Overcame the Fear of Performing My Vulva Check

Whether or not you have Lichen Sclerosus, checking your vulva on a regular basis is an important part of your health. Anyone with a vulva should do a self-exam once a month, just like everyone with breasts should do a monthly breast self-exam. Because vulva checks aren’t talked about much, it may seem weird to do one. And, if you have Lichen Sclerosus, you may be nervous about the kind of changes you may see. Know that with the right education and practice, it can become a routine part of your health that you’ll get more comfortable with. In this blog, I’ll share with you my first experience doing a vulva check and how you can do one on your own. Plus, I’ll connect you to some helpful LSSN resources to make your experience easier. Preparing for My First Vulva Check When I was first diagnosed with Lichen Sclerosus, I…
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