I went to my OB for a lump/open sore that I have had for nearly 4 months. The lesion is on my vulva, in the clitoral hood area. I have tried all the at-home OTC creams. The doctor was very concerned, and called in a second doctor to look as well. They decided it was best to get a biopsy, as they weren’t sure what it was, but judging by the feeling of my lymph nodes, I would guess they assumed precancer or cancer.

I recently had potential melanoma in the same general vicinity, so they referred me back to the same skin cancer clinic that removed that.

When I went in, the doctor thought I was crazy. She said she thought it was a cyst, even though it didn’t seem to be filled with much fluid and my main symptom is extreme. She put me on antibiotics and said if it was unresolved, we would remove it in two weeks and send it to the lab.

Listen, I get it...in two weeks I will get a biopsy no matter what. And it’s definitely good news she thinks it’s a cyst.

...however...this is a very rare cancer. When I told her I thought it was cancer or precancer, she all but laughed at me. She said, “If you hear hooves, it’s likely a horse, not a zebra.” I felt completely dismissed.

I am concerned she will be so convinced it’s simply a cyst, that she might do something to compromise the situation inadvertently.

Has anyone else dealt with a similar issue? I know it’s so rare. Sigh.