Do you know your vagina from your vulva? Most of us girls don’t – and we’re putting our lives at risk

DO you know your vagina from your vulva?

I realised, despite having pushed two babies out, I have no clue when it comes to the nitty gritty down below.

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To me, and all my friends, it's all just my vagina.

But holding up a pair of fetching gynaecological panties this week, complete with a handy diagram, I was shocked and confused.

A friend and I started googling the correct terminology for our "lady bits".

Now, I'm not one to get embarrassed when it comes to the intimate parts of the body - I'm the first to tell you to check your poo for signs of bowel cancer after all.

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But I was shocked at how little I know about a very important part of my anatomy.

'I'm not alone'

Research has shown nearly half of women can't accurately locate their own vagina.

And that's just the beginning of our problems.

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Lots of us don't realise there are five different gynaecological cancers - ovarian, cervical and womb, you've probably heard all about. But what about vaginal and vulval?

If we can't even label our bits right, how are we meant to know the signs something is wrong down there?

'We need to stop being so British about it'

Failing to openly use words like vagina, and getting all "British" and embarrassed about it, is a huge part of the problem, in my book.

Being shy is actually stopping any straight talking about what's normal and what's not.

And it's preventing us girls from getting ourselves checked.

So in my role as an ambassador for The Eve Appeal - the only charity that's focused on the five gynae cancers - I thought it only right that I don the gynae pants to show you exactly what's what down there.

When it comes to cancer, as I know all too well having been diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer at 35, prevention and catching these things at the earliest stage is much better than facing this disease.

'It's time to #GetLippy'

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So to mark The Eve Appeal's Get Lippy campaign today let's all get talking about all things gynaecological, from vaginas to vulvas, labias to lips.

And while you're at it, put your money where your mouth is, point your pout and help break the taboos around women's health.

Whatever it is you care about, say it!

#F*ckyoucancer

Like any week in the world of living with cancer, I've had highs and lows.

First things first, I actually got another clear scan!

While it may have only been six weeks since my last one, I feel like I've been given another window, a small one, but more time to just enjoying living.

So while I start planning to firmly grasp life by the balls, I can't help but struggle to muster the energy to jump for joy.

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Trust me I'm not being ungrateful, not for a second. It's quite the opposite in fact, I realise how lucky I am right now.

But I'm scared. Really scared it's all about to go away.

I'm scared of falling, of being crushed, of the carpet being whipped from beneath me.

So a familiar monster of anxiety seems to be rearing it's ugly head and now I have the challenge of trying to squash it.

I justify the daily dizziness in my head as a side effect of chemo, but there's a part of me thinking it could be a brain tumour.

And while I would have to be pretty unlucky, it's not something my brain will let me dismiss.

MORE THINGS CANCER MADE ME SAY

INSPIRATIONAL

A look at the life of the late Deborah James

HER ROCK

Find out about Deborah James' husband Sebastien Bowen

MUM’S PRIDE

Dame Deborah James' mum defied her advice & read final emotional book chapters

MUM'S GRIEF

Heartbreaking moment Deborah told me she loved me and had no regrets, says mum

Because when you're living in the shadow of stage 4 cancer, EVERY niggle really could be cancer.

And no sooner had I walked out of the hospital after my good news, I was met with another blow that brought me right back down to Earth with a bang.

My lovely You Me And The Big C podcast co-host Rachael Bland found out her cancer is back and it's incurable.

As she bravely embarks on a trial to control her triple negative breast cancer, I'm reminded how cruel cancer is.

Our podcast girl gang spent the last few days in tears recording our latest episodes, as Rachael discussed her next steps starting a clinical trial.

Cancer really does need to f*ck off sometimes!

Come join the I’d love to hear from you about #thethingscancermademesay.

Tell me your journey, show off your scars, share what keeps you smiling, or how you are giving two fat fingers to cancer (or anything else for that matter!)

To contact me email [email protected] and you can also follow me on and