Campaign Background by Fabia Brackenbury - Founder of VHAC

"I have a vulval skin condition, lichen sclerosus. In 1997 I started a support group for this condition. Initially I was misdiagnosed twice and my overall diagnosis took 2 years. In my support group I have women who have waited for over 20 years to obtain a diagnosis. During the course of my work for the group, I have corresponded both via the internet and through letters. I have interacted with thousands of women world-wide in the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Germany, Turkey, South America, South Africa and Asia, just to mention a few. I began to see that these women shared my concerns and experiences and that a high percentage had encountered extreme difficulty in obtaining both a correct diagnosis and further information. It became very clear to me that this area of women's health is being seriously neglected - information for those without computers is virtually unobtainable.

While considerable awareness has been given to a wide range of women's health problems, the vulva remains "the poor relation" of the female anatomy. More recently, the issues surrounding testicular cancer in men have provoked a rush of media information which has undoubtedly helped to raise not only awareness for testicular cancer but also the entire profile of the disorder. It has taken the stigma away for men. The testicular cancer awareness campaign enlisted the support of pop superstar, Robbie Williams and when Robbie Williams talks, we listen. There is no doubt that support from a superstar in any campaign is a huge asset. For women with cancer of the vulva though, the fight for awareness and to obtain media awareness support (and hopefully, one day, a superstar to support us) is a fight still waiting to be won.

I originally had the idea of a vulval health awareness campaign in 1999 and thought that the 21st century the appropriate and ideal time to raise the profile of vulval health. To celebrate the Millennium VHAC was founded in 2000. VHAC became a charity in February 2007.

In launching the Vulval Health Awareness Month (VHAM) in March of 2001, I worked closely with Dr David Nunns of the Vulval Pain Society (a consultant gynaecologist) and with many UK doctors who have a special interest in vulval health and also members of the BSSVD and ISSVD

We still have much to do and a long way to go before we can discuss vulvas at the dinner table in the way that we can now discuss breast cancer anywhere, anytime, any place!"

Fabia Brackenbury

Founder VHAC and VHAM

National Lichen Sclerosus Support Group

Honorary Member of the British Society for the Study of Vulval Disease.

Registered Charity No: 1117613

Telephone Helpline (+44) 07765 947599

The World's first vulval health awareness campaign