Lump / swelling in labia

[RejectedAgain]

Am I right in thinking that a lump / swelling in the labia needs checking out? I've had one for a few months now, started off as a small hard lump like a pea but has grown. As it's grown it's less solid. Doesn't cause pain but there is discolouration of the skin, almost like a bruise and it's definitely growing. Can feel it when washing and wiping now where as when I first found it I had to feel for it if that makes sense, thought it was an jngrowing hair at first.

Can't stop panicking now but have been told to wait till after lockdown for non urgent care. I thought a lump would be classed as urgent

I’ve had one. It comes and goes. Dr gave me antibiotics,

Could be a Bartholin’s cyst

It's hasn't disappeared at all, just keeps growing I guess I'll have to sit tight and wait till after lockdown if my gp won't see me

Agree, sounds like a Bartholin cyst. NHS information here with some self-care advice: www.nhs.uk/conditions/bartholins-cyst/

It needs looking into.

Don't be put off, get a gp appointment. It may well be over the phone. That's fine, they will ask questions, maybe prescribe something, then either arrange to see you or refer you on.

Who told you to wait?

Bartholins cysts are in a very specific place, not just anywhere in the labia.

@picklemewalnuts I filled in an e-consult and was told that only urgent things will be seen by the GP. I'm feeling I should ask for a 2nd opinion and insist on seeing a DR

Quote the NHS guidance to them that I've linked to you below. "Always see a GP if you develop a lump in the area around your vagina so they can confirm a diagnosis and rule out more serious conditions."

Hmm. Can you speak to someone, or email again? Emphasise your concern and ask for an appointment to be booked now, for after the lockdown.

To be fair, you wouldn't get an appointment at my GP within a month. I would want to know an appointment was booked, however.

I agree. Please insist (it may well be nothing to worry about, but it wasn’t for me, although I am (touch wood!) ok now.)

In the meantime, the Eve Appeal has an Ask Eve helpline to talk about ANY gynae health issues, which may be helpful

eveappeal.org.uk/supporting-you/ask-eve/

I've manned up and insisted that they saw me.

Different doctor said I need an urgent referral to the gynae department and should be seen within 2 weeks. Now I'm scared

OP - I know it's alarming when you're referred on the 2ww pathway but bear in mind the vast majority of referrals turn out not to be cancer.

Well done for insisting. In the unlikely event it’s something sinister, the sooner it gets seen to the better.

The waiting for a referral is very hard, so my advice is distract yourself as much as possible, and don’t Google! Hope your referral comes through soon

I'm so scared it's cancer

I just had a lump looked at by GP too. Not on my labia but in my groin by the tendon (she's pretty sure it's a varicocele which is very rare in women) and also sent me for an ultrasound, BUT she did say it's so rare that anything like this is sinister and that she couldn't remember the last time she saw a lump that turned out to be cancer. It's really great that they've gotten you in within the next 2 weeks, and it's unlikely to be anything worrying.

Also, my lump sounds very similar to yours, started as a tiny pea size, got bigger, although shrunk again, but now has gotten bigger, is less solid and not round, and almost looks bruised. Cysts are round and very firm

Waiting for referrals and diagnosis really is the hardest part. Hopefully it will be nothing, but if there is something that needs treating there will be a plan, and I promise that’s much easier!

I was diagnosed with vulvar cancer nearly 2 years ago, had surgery and am now scanned every 6 months. I’ve just had my latest scans and there’s no evidence of recurrence. It’s not been easy, but I’m still here! And vulvar cancer is very rare, so it may well be something else entirely.

@Toofaroutallmylife how old were you at diagnosis if you don't mind me asking? Also what kind of treatments did you need x

I was in my early 50s. Mine was a malignant melanoma (which is the rarer type of vulvar cancer) and it hadn’t spread so I had surgery to remove the affected area.

But try to think of this referral as them ruling things out. As you said in your first post, it needs checking out, and any sensible GP will refer you to check that it’s not cancer

I'm now awaiting biopsy results

Just seen your update. When will you receive your results?

It could be Hidradenitis Suppurativa - it is unusual for it to affect that area first, but that area can definitely be affected by it.

@slidingdrawers up to 3 weeks but usually within 2

Be thinking of you

@Nightman@RejectedAgain Hi, I know this was a while ago but did you ever get the results?

Sorry, meant to tag @RejectedAgain !