May 26, 2026 - 114 views
A North Wales woman is urging people across Wales to start talking openly about vulval cancer after sharing her powerful message on air during a special interview on Bayside Radio.
Sally joined Tracey Toulmin on her Saturday show at the weekend to speak candidly about the disease, the lack of awareness surrounding it, and why more women need to feel confident seeking help if something “doesn’t feel quite right”.
The emotional and informative conversation has now been turned into a Bayside longer-listen podcast in the hope that more people will hear Sally’s message, share it with friends and family, and help break down the stigma surrounding women’s gynaecological cancers.
Sally described vulval cancer as “a rare cancer that affects women” and warned that awareness remains far too low compared to cancers such as breast and prostate cancer.
She pointed out that approximately 1,400 women a year in the UK are diagnosed with vulval cancer — a figure that is rising — with around 80 per cent of cases affecting women over 60, although diagnoses among younger women are also increasing.
According to the NHS, symptoms of vulval cancer can include persistent itching, pain or soreness, changes in the skin, lumps, ulcers, bleeding, or changes to moles on the vulva. While many symptoms can have non-cancerous causes, experts stress that women should seek medical advice if anything unusual persists.
During the interview, Sally spoke about the importance of ending embarrassment around the subject.
“There is no shame or embarrassment in vulval cancer, just as there is none in prostate or breast cancer,” she said.
She drew comparisons with the way public awareness campaigns transformed attitudes towards breast cancer and prostate cancer over previous decades, helping to secure more research, better treatment and improved outcomes for patients.
Sally also raised concerns that vulval cancer and other gynaecological conditions are still not receiving enough attention and called for greater awareness, earlier diagnosis and improved support for women across Wales.
She urged women to check themselves regularly in the same way breast awareness campaigns encourage women to know what is normal for their bodies.
“If anything looks or feels ‘not quite right’, go to the doctor immediately,” she said.
The interview has already prompted strong reactions from listeners, with many praising Sally for speaking so openly about a subject that is rarely discussed publicly.
Bayside Radio says it hopes the longer-form podcast will encourage more conversations within families and communities, with Sally urging people to “tell your daughters, granddaughters, nieces, aunts, mothers — and grandmothers.”
Listen to the full conversation with Sally and Tracey Toulmin.
