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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYour first appointment will usually be with either your primary care doctor or a gynecologist. If your doctor or gynecologist suspects or diagnoses cancer, you'll likely be referred to an oncologist who specializes in gynecologic cancers.
Because appointments can be brief, and it can be difficult to remember everything you wanted to discuss, it's a good idea to be well prepared. Here are some suggestions for preparing, and what you can expect from your doctor.
What you can do
- Write down any symptoms you're experiencing. Include all of your symptoms, even if you don't think they're related.
- Make a list of any medications or vitamin supplements you take. Write down dosages and how often you take them.
- Take a family member or close friend with you. You may be given a lot of information at your visit, and it can be difficult to remember everything. If someone else is with you, he or she may remember details that you missed or forgot. He or she may also think to ask important questions you might not have considered.
- Take a notebook or notepad with you. That way you can write down important information, such as treatment options.
- Prepare a list of questions to ask your doctor. Knowing ahead of time what you want to ask your doctor can help you make the most of your limited time together. List your most important questions first, in case time runs out.
For vulvar cancer, some basic questions to ask include:
- What kinds of tests will I need?
- Do I need to do anything to prepare for these tests?
- Other than vulvar cancer, are there any other possible causes for these symptoms?
- What type of vulvar cancer do I have?
- What stage is my cancer?
- What types of surgical options are available to me?
- What kind of success rates does each type of surgery have?
- What are the drawbacks to each type of surgery?
- Will I need to wear an ostomy bag?
- What about radiation or chemotherapy? Are those options available to me?
- What kind of success rates do those therapies have?
- What types of side effects does each treatment have?
- How will these treatments affect my sexuality?
- Will I be able to have children after treatment?
- How should I prepare for treatment?
- Which course of action do you recommend?
- What are the odds of recurrence?
- What is my prognosis?
And, if your doctor says something that's not clear, don't hesitate to ask questions until you understand completely.
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor will likely have a number of questions for you. Some potential questions your doctor might ask include:
- When did you first notice these symptoms?
- How often do you experience these symptoms?
- How severe are your symptoms?
- Does anything improve your symptoms?
- Does anything make your symptoms worse?
- Have you ever been diagnosed with lichen sclerosus?
- Have you ever had an abnormal Pap test?
- Have you ever been diagnosed with HPV?
- Jhingran A, et al. Cancers of the cervix, vulva and vagina. In: Abeloff MD, et al. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2007:1766.
- Frumovitz M, et al. Neoplastic diseases of the vulva: Lichen sclerosus, intraepithelial neoplasia, Paget's disease, carcinoma. In: Katz VL, et al. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/202781245-2/0/1524/0.html. Accessed June 2, 2010.
- Crosbie EJ, et al. The management of vulvar cancer. Cancer Treatment Reviews. 2009;35:533.
- Whitcomb BP. Gynecologic malignancies. Surgical Clinics of North America. 2008;88:301.
- Elkas JC, et al. Vulvar cancer: Staging, treatment and prognosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 7, 2010.
- Gagne HM. Colposcopy of the vagina and vulva. Obstetric and Gynecologic Clinics of North America. 2008;35:659.
- Helm CW. Radical vulvectomy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 7, 2010.
- Barton DPJ. The prevention and management of treatment related morbidity in vulvar cancer. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics Gynaecology. 2003;17:683.
- Disorders of the vulva. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp088.cfm. Accessed June 9, 2010.
- Human papillomavirus infection. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp073.cfm. Accessed June 9, 2010.
- Vulva. In: Edge SB, et al. AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: Springer; 2010:379.
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