Vulva Cancer: I was sore during Sex By Natasha

When my son, who is now 24, was born, i tore quite badly on my perineum and vulva, and for a long time afterwards i was really sore particularly during sex. Around 15 years later i mentioned it to my GP, as one particular area was now really itchy and sore all the time and she took a look. She immediately said she would have to refer me to a gynaecologist. I am extremely grateful and lucky to have had a GP who recognised it was an ulcer that was not healing.
At my gynae appointment i was reassured that it was not cancer, it was highly unlikely to be pre cancerous even, as i was young (40) .
A biopsy was taken and it came back as VIN - vulval intraepithelial neoplasia, a precancer- and positive for the hpv virus. I was told that it was best for me now to have a wide local excision - a surgery to remove the dodgy cells and a safe margin around them. Surgery on the vulva is extremely painful and debilitating, as i found out.
I was called on New Years eve by a specialist nurse who advised me that the consultant wanted to see me, and at this point my head said "you have cancer" , although the nurse would not tell me anything except to bring someone with me. Again, my head said "youhave cancer" My relationship had recently broken down and i was moving house with my two children a week later..
The day before i moved house my sister came with me to my appointment with the consultant. I have a terrible memory, but 8 years on i remember that appointment quite clearly. The Consultant said he had to tell me i had cancer, he said he had nearly fallen off his chair when he got the results back, vulval cancer was an old ladies' disease. Clearly this is not the case.
Since that diagnosis i have had 8 or 9 surgeries, ive actually lost count. I get checked every 6 months and my latest check up led to a large biopsy, which noted the hpv virus still active. Some hpv strains are bigh risk for cancer.
I had some lymph nodes removed from my groin also. I had cells burnt away from just inside my vagina one time, the only word for that is agony, i fainted from the pain post op.
Vulval cancer is brutal and yet its virtually unheard of.
I would really like all women to be aware of the possibility of vulval cancer and also to have their children vaccinated against the hpv virus.
Natasha (47)