Uterine Fibroid - family history of ovarian cancer. Now what?

If your symptoms are causing you problems then its better to have it removed. As Your fibroid is not considered as large at this stage, that could be why your gynae has told you its optional to remove. Fibroids do get bigger with time despite exercise or having a good diet so in my opinion its best to have it removed now, not when you have several more symptoms or more or larger fibroids. Fibroids of your size can be taken out using keyhole surgery depending on the skill of the surgeon so you may want to discuss this option with your gynae. Knowing your family history of fibroids and ovarian cancer is useful as you can pass this information onto your gynae and they may decide monitor you more closely.

Thank you

Hi

This sounds like a big decision for you, if it was me I would get a second opinion asap.  This is what I did, however, with no family history like your own.

It is your decision at the end of the day, you definitely need thorough testing doing now though screening etc, this will at the very least put your mind at rest, as I would imagine you are all over the place.

My auntie has a fibroid, however, has no children and was mid 50s, I am mid forties and have had an ovarian cyst on left ovary which has been removed and benign, and coil, scrape, abalation which was unsuccessful, advised to have hysterctomy which I declined, and then my 2nd opinion offered me a myomectomy, after taking Esmya this was only short term solution for me, and I had a UAE 12 May 2014, this does appear to have worked for me touch wood.  However, this is not without risk, and my family is complete.  My fibroid was submucousal and 16-18 weeks, so a four month pregnancy in effect.

I am sure if the results were not favourable, ultimately you would have no choice, as painful as this decision would be, your health is paramount ultimately.

Hi, as said previously fibroids do get bigger with time. If it was me I would have it removed, mine were too prolifous and big in size by the time I had my diagnosis to enable a successful removal (My doctor had one attempt which failed) I eventually opted for a hysterectomy with ovary and cervix removal. This was an easier decision for me as my son is grown up and I had no plans to have any more but you are young so the decision is harder.

There are risks associated with removal of fibroids but as i understand it the risks are greater when they increase in size.

Whatever you decide I would try to go back to your consultant for further advice on the new information you have about your family medical history to see if that changes your options at all.