Fibroid growing - the doctor suspect cancer - have you tried it?

Posted , 4 users are following.

Hi - have any of you had experiences with this:

I've had a fibroid for years, that I have not noticed at all, as it sits outside the uterus. I january I got pregnant, but had a missed abortion, and hence an surgial abortion at the hospital. Here they found a rather large 'thing' at the outside, where my fibrome used to be. Because it has been growing fast (from 5 to 11 cm), they worry it might be cancer, and I am now going through a cancerprogramme in order to diagnose it.

My problem now is, that the doctors say  that the only way to be sure wether its cancer or not, is to remove the fibroid as well as my uterus. As far as I am concerned it can very well 'just' be the fibroid which has qrown fast, because of the pregnancy and the estrogen-stimulation (which a lot of fibroms tend to do). The doctor also says it is not possible to make a biopsi or to just remove the fibroid (even though it is not growing in the urerus but at a 'string' from the uterus) because of the risk of the possible cancercells to spred.

Now I wonder if any of you have had experiences with firbroids that grew fast during pregnancy, the supection of cancer and possible treatments, that does not involve removing the uterus?

I am writing from Denmark (so excuse my english), since there might be a difference in treaments across borders, that could inspire me in what to discuss with my doctor.

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Posted

    HI. Sorry about the other post. My computer went crazy for a moment.

    I also have a fast growing fibroid with a slight possiblity of being cancerous. However, I am not pregrant. I am in perimenopause when it is normal for fibroids to grow quickly. It is also normal for fibroids to grown during pregnancy because of pregnancy hormones. In my case, my fibroid is degenerating and has an odd appearance, which is what is makng the doctors worry. I have chosen a hysterectomy just to be sure. I probably couldn't carry a pregnancy to term because of all my fibroids anyway. (I was pregnant once and miscarried at 6 weeks.)

    I believe it is true that they can't check for cancer while the fibroid is in your body and that jsut removing the fiborid could cause cancer to spread.

    I can't tell you what to do, but my advice would be to think about the reaons you have for keeping your uterus and the risk of cancer.  I have chosen to have a hysterectomy because I don't want it constantly in the back of my mind that I could have cancer. I also owe it to my husband (I don't have children) to take care of myself and not put myself at the risk of cancer, so I don't leave him a widow at a young age.

    I think how effective other treatments would be would depend on the type of cancer. Also, please keep in mind that if you want to save your uterus so you can become pregant, treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy would affect your ability to have children as well.

    • Posted

      Sorry about the horrible  typos. I can't seem to edit my posts.
  • Posted

    Hi

    I'm so sorry to hear what you are going through. I have huge fibroids which I am currently having treatment for prior to surgery.

    I am seeing a consultant who is also the lead consultant oncology gyneacologist at Christies Hospital.

    My fibroids grew significantly within two years without being pregnant and he was concerned that they may have been cancerous. He ordered an MRI scan and did some blood tests and was happy from the findings that they were not cancerous.

    I don't think that I am equipped to advise you but getting a second opinion from an oncologist is very important. I don't know how old you are or if you want to have a family but if you do. You need to investigate this thoroughly before operating.

    I wish you the very best of luck and hope you find the very best solution and care for you.

    Angela x

    • Posted

      Thank you, Angela! Would you share the name of your consultant at Christies Hospital, who is treating you? I am considering getting a second opinion from outside DK, since the perspectives on this issue might be slightly conservative in DK, compared to UK and US. And your consultant could be a possibility, I recond. 

      Lone

    • Posted

      Hi Lone

      I am seeing my consultant at Alexandra Private Hospital under as a gynea patient.

      He is as I said the lead consultant oncology gynaecologist at Christies.

      He specialises in fibroids also.

      His name is Mr Richard Slade. You will find him easily online and I'm sure it can be decided between you where the best place is to see him.

      He is a lovely lovely person and will really put you at ease which also helps. I'll be really interested to know how you get on so please do keep in touch.

      I hope this helps.

      Take care

      Angela x

    • Posted

      Thank you so much, Angela, this is so usefull - I will keep you posted

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