I decided to put my educator hat on and alert you all to what is a somewhat rare but nonetheless alarming condition: Angiokeratoma of Fordyce. This is what I have in my nether regions. Apparently, it's seen far more often in men on their scrotum. If I were you, I wouldn't Google images of it. Not a pretty sight. Believe me.
Here is what it isn't: it isn't a sexually transmitted disease and it isn't cancer. What it is are red, purple or black dots or small growths similar to blood blisters. They don't itch. They don't hurt. I have four -- two the size of pin pricks, two a bit larger. They might go away but probably not. It's unclear, at least to me, what causes them.
Here's what I thought they were: melanoma of the vulva. Yep, you can get skin cancer even where the sun don't shine. Vulval cancer is the fourth most common type of genital cancer. It's ugly; it's awful. Symptoms are an itch that won't go away, pain that won't go away, unusual growths (hence my concern). Apparently, ladies, we are meant to check our vulvas like we check our breasts. Melanoma is but one of the cancers that can afflict this area. Vulval cancer is seen most frequently in women over 70 but it is on the rise in younger women, partly because of HPV. It is slow-growing so the survival rate if caught in time is quite high. Except for the melanoma because that is fast-growing.
I will admit I still have a nagging doubt that these angiokeratomas are a bit more sinister than the doctor led me to believe. But if they are, I should know fairly soon.
Now, isn't that a nice break from reading about my disintegrating marriage and relationship with my children?
The latest on that is Daughter and FEX had another sign language conversation in the kitchen. They think I'm so stupid. I've decided to rise above it. If that's what they want to do, let them. The kids informed me today that they'll be working in their dad's office during the half term. Doing what? I asked. Dunno, they replied. That should be fun! I shall be job-seeking and going on another interview and writing and doing my computer homework.
I won't be researching angiokeratoma of Fordyce. I did that today.
What flavour are you?
niceaward
About Me
- wakeupandsmellthecoffee
- Northwest, United Kingdom
- I'm a stunningly attractive and intelligent woman in her 20s who lives life to the fullest. That's on the inside. On the outside I'm a 40-ish bored and desperate housewife who just this year discovered I might be menopausal.
4 comments:
Why is it called "angio"? Isn't that to do with the heart?
Just remember what your daughter told you and hold on to that, she has learnt to play the game with her father that's all.
xx
I've just caught up on your blog. The last post I had read was that you were going to stop blogging here and take it up somewhere else so I was shocked to come back now and see all these posts! Try not to involve your kids (by telling them the truth about their father) take it from a kid who was once involved in similar (a long time ago but I'm still tainted by it); kids just don't want to know.
Expatmum: Angio as in blood vessel or vascular.
Fire Byrd: Oh she plays that game extremely well. I do try to remember what she said.
DJ: I went through it myself as well and remember all too well both my parents trashing each other to me. I try not to say anything negative about their father to my children. They don't want to hear it and I should respect that.
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