Vulvar Cancer Awareness Forum

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Vulvar Cancer Awareness Forum

If you or someone you care about is struggling to cope with Vulvar Cancer, Vulvar Cancer Awareness Forum is ready to help.

We are dedicated to raising awareness of vulvar cancer, educating the public, advocating for research and better treatments, and offering hands-on support to patients and families. Since 2018, we’ve succeeded in helping countless individuals navigate and overcome challenging situations. It is our mission to raise awareness for this little talked about cancer as well as educate on it. We also activ

ely advocate for change and advancements in Vulvar Cancer treatments, early detection, development of screenings, etc. Besides that, we advocate directly on behalf of patients who are having difficulties going through the diagnostic stages, and those who have already been diagnosed. Knowing there is a lack of support for Vulvar Cancer Patients which often leads to feelings of isolation and loneliness, we offer three private support groups on Facebook, one for Vulvar Cancer, VIN (pre-cancer), and a family and friends support group. Our Support Group members are kind, patient, and open-minded with the experience, knowledge, and tools to help you cope with what you are going through. We all must walk our own paths through life, but we don’t have to do it alone. We’re here to help, all you have to do is reach out. On February, 1, 2021, we successfully launched our Vulvar Cancer Care Box program which is the first of its kind. The care boxes are designed to let patients know that they are not alone and provide them with some items that are needed, and to encourage them. The Vulvar Cancer Community may be largely overlooked, but we are changing that one step and one person at the time.

06/16/2026

𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝘃𝘂𝗹𝘃𝗮𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗮

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) of the v***a is a rare form of v***ar cancer. It begins in the basal cells, which sit at the bottom layer of the epidermis. While BCC is the most common skin cancer overall, it is uncommon on the v***a — and because of that, it is often overlooked.

🔍 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗢𝗡 𝗦𝗬𝗠𝗣𝗧𝗢𝗠𝗦

• Persistent itching
• Burning or irritation
• Pearly or shiny bump
• Flat, scaly, or plaque‑like lesion
• Non‑healing sore or ulcer
• Bleeding
• Pain or tenderness
• Lesion that slowly enlarges over time

📌 𝗕𝗖𝗖 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗦

• BCC accounts for 2–5% of v***ar cancers
• Can mimic benign skin conditions
• Usually slow‑growing but can become locally invasive
• Early diagnosis leads to excellent outcomes

🧬 𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗞 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗦

Although the exact cause of Basal Cell Carcinoma of V***a is unknown, some risk factors for developing the condition have been characterized.

• Chronic v***ar inflammation (Lichen Sclerosus, Lichen Planus, etc.)
• Increasing age
• Fair skin (Caucasians are at a higher risk)
• Prior radiation exposure
• Genetic conditions affecting skin cancer risk (Basal Cell Nevus Syndrom)
• Immunosuppression (HIV)
• Smoking
• Use of Tanning Beds

Not having any of these risk factor does NOT mean that an individual will not developed this cancer. Always pay attention to your body, and address any signs and symptoms with a doctor.

➡️ There are no screening tests for v***ar cancer — none. That’s why v***ar self‑exams are essential. Subtle changes matter, especially when a lesion doesn’t heal or keeps returning.

➡️ A biopsy is the ONLY way to diagnose BCC.
No clinician — no matter how experienced — can diagnose or rule out v***ar cancer by sight alone. If symptoms persist, advocate for a biopsy. Your body deserves answers.

💌 Please share this information. Someone in your circle may be silently struggling, and your post could be the reason they seek help.

***arCancer

06/15/2026

Today we are celebrating our Founder, S. Yohanna Hoehler. 🥳💜

💌 Below are the words of reflection she shared in honor of her 6th remission anniversary.

"I’m officially celebrating 6 years of remission from Stage 3 V***ar Cancer. 💜🙌🏼

There were seasons I truly didn’t know how I would make it through. Seasons filled with fear, pain, surgeries, treatments, uncertainty, and the heavy weight of survival. But through every tear, every setback, every “I can’t do this,” God carried me.

I FAITHED IT… AND GOD DID IT. 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

Life after cancer isn’t simple. The physical aftermath, the scars, the changes, the daily reminders, they’re real. Some days are still hard. But even in that, I remain deeply grateful. I’m here. I’m alive. I’m still walking in purpose. I never take a single breath for granted.

Cancer may have rewritten parts of my story, but it did not rewrite my God‑given destiny. It didn’t silence my voice. It didn’t steal my purpose. It didn’t break my faith.

And this I know with my whole heart:
If God healed me from cancer, He can continue healing me from everything cancer left behind.
My healing didn’t stop at remission. God is still restoring, strengthening, rebuilding, and renewing me day by day.

To anyone fighting a battle, physical, emotional, or spiritual, please hold on. Hope is alive. Healing is real. Miracles still happen. God is still moving.

Please know that a cancer diagnosis does not always mean a death sentence, even in advanced stage diagnosis' like mine. The road to remission is not an easy one and often filled with many surgeries and treatments, but nonetheless remission is very possible.

Thank You, God, for grace, mercy, strength, and for allowing me to see another year cancer‑free.

Every scar tells a story of survival.
Every breath testifies to Your faithfulness.

6 years of remission.
6 years of grace.
6 years of purpose.

And I’m still FAITHING IT." 💜🙌🏼

***arCancerSurvivor ***arCancer

06/14/2026

𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝘃𝘂𝗹𝘃𝗮𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗩𝘂𝗹𝘃𝗮𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗮

V***ar Melanoma a is a rare but aggressive form of v***ar cancer that develops from melanocytes, the pigment‑producing cells found on the v***a.

🔍 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘀

V***ar melanoma can look nothing like the “typical” skin mole people imagine. Symptoms may include:

• Persistent Itching
• Burning & Pain
• Dark or unusually pigmented or shaped areas on the v***a which can appear brown, black, pink, or red
• Moles
• A raised Bump, Lump or Ulcer
• Bleeding

Melanoma can also appear pink, red, or skin‑colored, which is why it’s often missed.

📌 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀

• V***ar melanoma accounts for 5–10% of v***ar cancers
• Can occur at any age, though more common after 50
• Often diagnosed late because symptoms are subtle or mistaken for benign skin changes
• Early detection is critical — melanoma can spread quickly
• Not caused by sun exposure

🧬 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀

V***ar melanoma develops due to changes in a person’s cells that cause them to grow out of control. Though the exact underlying cause remains unknown, experts suspect a combination of environmental and genetic exposures may cause a mutation in the v***ar cells.

Many people with v***ar melanoma have no identifiable risk factors, which is why awareness matters.

⚠️ 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝗼 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀

Just like other v***ar cancers, there is no routine screening for v***ar melanoma.
This makes v***ar self‑exams essential. Knowing your normal helps you recognize when something changes.

🧪 𝗔 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗽𝘀𝘆 𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗬 𝗪𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗲

No clinician — no matter how experienced — can diagnose or rule out melanoma by sight alone.

If you notice a new, changing, or concerning lesion, advocate for yourself and insist on a biopsy. Your voice could save your life.

💌 Please share this information. Someone in your circle may be silently struggling, and your post could be the reason they seek help.

***arCancer

06/14/2026

𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝘃𝘂𝗹𝘃𝗮𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗮

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) of the v***a is the most common type of v***ar cancer. It starts in the squamous cells — the flat cells on the outer layer of v***ar skin.

🔍 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗢𝗡 𝗦𝗬𝗠𝗣𝗧𝗢𝗠𝗦

• Persistent itching
• Burning
• Lumps or Bumps
• White or Red Raised Lesions
• Ulcers (Non-healing Sores)
• Wart or Cauliflower-like Growths
• Bleeding
• Pain

📌 𝗦𝗖𝗖 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗦

• SCC makes up 70–90% of v***ar cancers
• Can happen at any age
• Often missed or misdiagnosed early
• Early detection dramatically changes outcomes

🧬 𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗞 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗦

• Lichen sclerosus
• HPV
• Smoking
• Chronic inflammation
• Age 50+ (but can occur younger)
• Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

➡️ There are currently no screening tests for v***ar cancer. That’s why v***ar self‑exams are vitally important. Knowing your normal helps you recognize when something changes.

➡️ A biopsy is the ONLY way to diagnose SCC.
No clinician — no matter how experienced — can diagnose or rule out v***ar cancer by sight alone. If you have persistent symptoms, always advocate for yourself and insist on a biopsy. Your life is worth the push.

💌 Please share this information. Someone in your circle may be silently struggling, and your post could be the reason they seek help.

***arCancer

06/14/2026

We are beginning a series of posts to educate on each type of v***ar cancer. Today’s focus is 𝙀𝙭𝙩𝙧𝙖 𝙈𝙖𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙋𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙑𝙪𝙡𝙫𝙖 (𝙀𝙈𝙋𝘿) — one of the rarer and most often misunderstood forms of v***ar cancer. It is typically a slow‑growing cancer that begins in the intraepithelial (surface) layer of v***ar skin.

🔍 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘀:

• Persistent itching
• Red, scaly, or crusty patches of skin
• White thickened skin patches Ulcers or nodules
• Bleeding from skin patches
• Burning
• Pain

These symptoms often mimic conditions like eczema, psoriasis, or chronic yeast infections — leading to frequent misdiagnosis. If symptoms persist or fail to respond to standard treatments, always insist on a biopsy.

🧬 𝗘𝗠𝗣𝗗 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀:

➡️ It typically affects postmenopausal women, though it can occur at any age.

➡️ EMPD may be primary (limited to the v***ar skin) or secondary (associated with underlying adenocarcinoma of glands such as Bartholin’s or sweat glands).

➡️ The disease can remain superficial for years but may eventually invade deeper tissues if untreated.

➡️ Recurrence after surgery is common, so long‑term follow‑up is essential.

Because EMPD is rare, awareness among both patients and clinicians is vital. Persistent v***ar irritation, discoloration, or skin changes deserve attention — not dismissal. Empower yourself and others to seek specialist evaluation and a biopsy when symptoms don’t resolve.

💌 𝙋𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙚. 𝘼𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨!

06/07/2026

Today, we honor every Survivor! 💜

National Cancer Survivors Day is more than a celebration — it’s a declaration of strength, resilience, and the sacred truth that survivorship is a lifelong journey, not a finish line.

A survivor is not only someone in remission. A survivor is also the person still in treatment, still fighting, still showing up to appointments, still waking up every day and choosing life in the middle of the storm.

To every survivor: You carry stories written in scars, courage stitched into your spirit, and a strength the world cannot measure. Your journey is valid. Your healing is ongoing. Your voice matters.

To the caregivers, clinicians, advocates, and loved ones who walk beside survivors — thank you for holding space, holding hands, and holding hope.

Today we celebrate your life. Today we honor your fight. Today we stand with you — in every chapter, every scan, every victory, every fear, every sunrise.

Drop a 💜 in the comments if you’re celebrating a survivor.

Tag a name if you're you’re honoring a survivor you love.

💌 Share this post as a sign of solidarity.

***arCancer

06/05/2026

✨️ 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙑𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 — 𝙈𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝘼𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙑𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚✨️

We’re bringing back one of ourawareness initiatives: A series of “V***ar Cancer Facts” shared directly from patients, survivors, and loved ones of patients. These quotes will be featured on our public social media pages to help educate, empower, and save lives.

We’re inviting community members who feel comfortable having their first name and photo included alongside their quote.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲:

1️⃣ Send us a private message or email us at v***[email protected]

2️⃣ Share your fact — 1–3 sentences from your lived experience or perspective.

3️⃣ Add a photo of yourself with your comment.

4️⃣ Tell us how your first name should appear.

5️⃣ Optional: If you are a patient/survivor, include your age if you feel comfortable — Not required.

🗣 Your voice matters. Your experience matters.And your words may be the reason someone gets diagnosed earlier, advocates harder, or finally feels seen.

Thank you in advance for lending your voice and helping us raise awareness.

Together, we can create change. 💜

Address

P. O. Box 3316
Bethlehem, PA
18017

Telephone

+14848930360

Website

http://www.vulvarcancerawareness.com/

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