Your care and how quickly you recover after the operation will depend on the type of surgery you have had. Your doctor will explain all this to you beforehand. If the cancer is very small and only a minimal amount of skin is removed, the wound is likely to heal quickly. If your lymph nodes are removed, and particularly if you need more major surgery (such as a radical vulvectomy), healing and recovery will take longer.

When you go back to the ward you will have a drip in your arm, which gives you fluids into a vein. Once you can eat and drink normally again, probably after a couple of days, the drip will be taken out. You may also be given antibiotics through the drip to prevent you getting any infections. You will be given injections of blood thinning medicine just under the skin to prevent blood clots.

You will usually have a tube to drain urine from your bladder (catheter) put in while you are under the anaesthetic. You may have the catheter in for up to ten days. You may also have a dressing over the operation site. If your lymph glands have been removed you will probably have two tubes, called drains, going into the groin. This is to drain any fluid that may collect there. The drains are connected to small suction bottles.

After your operation you may have some pain or discomfort for a few days. You will be given painkillers, which are generally very effective at controlling any pain. At first you may be given the painkillers by injection into a muscle, or directly into your drip. Sometimes a small pump can be used to give painkillers into your bloodstream for the first few days. Many of these pumps allow you to control how much painkiller you receive (they are programmed so that you can not give yourself too much). Once you are eating and drinking properly again, you can be given your painkillers as tablets or a liquid.

Always let your doctor or nurse know if you have any pain or discomfort, as your painkillers, or the dose, can be changed to suit your needs. You may have a tube put into the fluid around your spinal cord (an epidural) so that painkillers can be given directly to this area.

If you have had major surgery you may be nursed in bed for the first 48 hours after your operation. After this you will be helped to get out of bed and encouraged to start gently moving around as soon as possible. The nurse or a physiotherapist will also help you do regular gentle leg exercises to prevent blood clots forming and deep breathing exercises to prevent any chest infections.

You may not have any dressings on the vulval wound, as the area is likely to be kept clean by gently rinsing it with fluid. This is usually done three times a day until you go home. If you do have a dressing, it will be removed after a few days and changed regularly to keep the area clean and to help the skin to heal. Your stitches, if they are not dissolvable, will be removed when the skin has healed properly, usually in about 7−10 days.

If you have any groin wounds they will be covered with dressings, which will need to be changed regularly. The tubes will be removed from your groin when most of the excess fluid has been drained away. This may take about ten days, or sometimes longer. When the skin has healed your stitches will be removed and you will be able to go home.

Once you are at home, you will not need to put dressings on the area, but it is important to keep it clean and dry. The nurses on the ward will show you the best way to do this before you go home. In some situations a district nurse will be able to visit you at home to help with rinsing and keeping the area clean.

If you have had a skin graft, you may need dressings on the area where the skin was taken (the donor site). Usually these dressings stay in place until new skin has formed. Your nurse will explain more about this to you.

You may find that your bowels do not open for a few days after your operation. This is quite usual. Once you are back to eating and drinking again, which is generally within a few days, your bowels should start to work normally again. It is likely that you will be prescribed laxatives after your operation to prevent constipation. If opening your bowels is painful, or difficult, let your doctors know and they can prescribe extra laxatives to help.

When you go home you will need to take things easy for a few weeks. The time it takes you to recover will depend on the extent of the surgery you have had.

If you have had major surgery, it is very important not to lift any heavy objects for at least six to eight weeks. This will help the skin to heal completely. It is advisable to wait about eight weeks before going back to work, but you may need longer if you heal more slowly. You can usually start driving after six weeks. Your car insurance company may specify a longer time before you can drive again, so it is helpful to contact them to check.

If your operation involved removing only a small amount of skin, your recovery will be much quicker. Your doctor will advise you on what to expect and on the precautions you should take. Here are some other helpful tips to consider:

• Avoid tight clothing and any lotions, perfumes and powders in the area of your operation.
• Don’t overdo walking until the skin has healed comfortably.
• Frequent baths can soothe the wound and help healing (but avoid scented bath oils/bubble bath).
• If passing urine makes your wound sting, try pouring a small jug of warm or tepid water over the wound while you are still sitting on the toilet.
• A hair dryer on a cool setting can be a more comfortable way of drying the vulval skin than a towel.
• Wear a loose fitting skirt and underslip (but no underwear) wherever possible as this may be more comfortable. (If you have to keep pads in place it will not be possible to avoid wearing underwear).
• If you tend to be constipated ask your doctor to prescribe some gentle laxatives for you.

If your skin is healing slowly, you may need to stay longer in hospital for further dressings. Sometimes a district nurse can come to your home to do these dressings.

Before you leave hospital the staff can arrange district nurses and other help for you at home.

You will be seen by your surgeon in the outpatients clinic after four to six weeks to check how well the skin is healing and to discuss any problems. This is called a follow-up appointment. If you have any problems or worries before your follow-up appointment, contact your hospital doctor or the nurses on your ward for advice.

If the lymph nodes in your groin have been removed by surgery, or if you have had radiotherapy to this part of your body, there is a risk of swelling of your leg or legs. The lymph nodes normally help to remove lymph fluid from your legs. Taking them away can block the flow of lymph. If this happens fluid will collect in the tissues under your skin. This can make your legs swell and is called lymphoedema. The condition can develop a few months or several years after treatment.

Lymphoedema can be treated with special massage techniques, exercises, bandaging and support stockings. Many hospitals have a nurse or physiotherapist who specialises in this treatment. The earlier it is started, the more likely treatment for lymphoedema is to be successful, so let your doctor know if you notice even mild swelling of your leg or foot.

If you have lymphoedema, your leg and foot will be more vulnerable to infection.

Listed below are some simple tips to help you care for your skin and reduce the risk of infection:

• Treat even small grazes and cuts with antiseptic and keep them clean until they heal. See your GP at the first signs of any infection – if the cut is inflamed or feels warm and tender.
• Wear long trousers when gardening to avoid being scratched.
• Avoid getting sunburnt.
• Keep your skin clean and dry and apply moisturising cream daily to keep it supple.
• To avoid cuts, use an electric razor if you shave your legs.
• If you are going on a long journey, wear support stockings.
• Do not have any injections in your legs.
• Dry between your toes carefully. If you notice any signs of athlete’s foot (soreness and/or peeling between the toes) treat it straightaway.
• Use nail clippers instead of scissors to cut your nails (as there is less risk of accidentally cutting the skin with clippers).