Anish Vij
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Warning: This article contains discussion of cancer which some readers may find distressing
A Leeds woman was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer after thinking she just had a bad case of thrush.
Pippa Sharp started to experience the common infection in August 2022 when she was prescribed antibiotics by her GP.
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Thrush in the vagina is a common yeast infection, also known as vaginal candidiasis, caused by an overgrowth of the yeast Candida albicans. The infection can affect both men and women.
After four days, however, the 49-year-old's sore spot on her left labia wasn't going away.
A biopsy and scan in January 2023 then revealed that Pippa had stage three vulval cancer.
“Four days after getting them prescribed, there was no change,” she said. “I’m really cautious with health stuff, so I looked at the NHS website because I knew it was trustworthy.
“I had each and every one of the symptoms listed under ‘vulval cancer’ - from bloody discharge to persistent itching.”
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Vulvar cancer is a rare type of cancer that affects the vulva, the external part of the female genitals.
It is fairly uncommon in women under 50 who haven't undergone menopause, and predominantly occurs in women over 65.
According to the NHS symptoms affecting the vulva may include:
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• persistent itching and pain
• soreness
• thickened or discoloured skin patches
• lumps
• wart-like growths
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• bleeding
• changes in moles
Pippa experienced frequent bouts of thrush and in August 2022, she developed a small, hard sore patch.
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In March 2024, Pippa had surgery to remove the mass, and she has since had 50 rounds of radiotherapy and five rounds of chemotherapy.
The cancer had returned in her right labia in July and Pippa had it removed via surgery.
She is now waiting on the remainder of her results.
“It’s become a real focus of mine to get the word out there, while I'm waiting for the news,” she said.
“We talk so much about how we need to check our breasts. But we should be checking our vulvas regularly, too. It’s a quick check when you go to the toilet, or when you’re laying in bed.
“Feel around for soreness, lumps and bumps - note if you find any unusual discharge. Always go to see your GP if you’re worried.
“You may be embarrassed for a few moments, but that 10-minute appointment could be the difference between finding it’s nothing - or catching cancer early.”
She said she wants to raise awareness of the disease so people can catch it at an earlier stage.
“I was embarrassed about vulval cancer at first - but now, I can’t shut up about it,” said the former brand innovation and awards co-ordinator.
“It’s a rare cancer - but that doesn’t mean people shouldn’t know about it. This affects more than women over 55 - mandatory checks should be offered alongside the smear.”
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.