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fibroids vs cancer?
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08-24-2005, 08:28 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 1
Hysterectomy: September 13th, 2005
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fibroids vs cancer?
I am a 48 years old and deep into what I thought was "perimenopause". I have had irregular periods for about a year and for the last several months (since May?) have been bleeding every 2 weeks. I have had vague pain on my right side for most of the year. 3 weeks ago, at the start of my period, I started experiencing more than vague pain on my right side. It hasn't gone away since. I am unable to work, or do much of anything else either because of the pain. I also have been bleeding most of those 3 weeks. I had an ultrasound 2 days ago and got a call from my Dr. that I had many, large fibroids inside of, in the wall of, and completely outside my uterus. She suggest that I would probably need a hysterectomy. I asked her what the probability they were cancer and she said that it was quite unlikely (2%).
My question is this: Is there a way to know that this is just fibroids with out invasive surgery/ hysterectomy? With my age and the fact that I don't want anymore children (god forbid) is hysterectomy the best alternative eitehr way?
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08-24-2005, 08:43 PM
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Hostess Mentor Team
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Posts: 10,588
Hysterectomy: April 12th, 1999
Surgery Type: TVH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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fibroids vs cancer?
Dear Lucy:
I didn't have fibroids, but here is a link to the Fibroids section of our Resources Directory: https://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/lin...=browse&cid=26
Get smart about your symptoms and your options, and make the bext choice for YOU! I am sending huge cyberhugs
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08-24-2005, 09:49 PM
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Posts: 4,793
Hysterectomy: April 22nd, 2004
Surgery Type: LSH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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fibroids vs cancer?
Hi Lucystone,
I was 47 at time of my hyst last year for two large fiborids. I had no real symptoms. I just started having heavier periods and bladder incontinence and I just attributed it to my age. I went for my annual exam and then my Dr. ordered an ultrasound and there were my big boy fibroids. What a shock!!!
I can suggest maybe you get a 2nd or a 3rd opinion. The more information...the more it can help you with a decision. In my opinion, unless cancer is detected, a hysterectomy is done generally for ~quality of life~ reasons. In my case, I had a window of opportunity to have a less invasive hyst with my LSH so I chose to go that route since both my Drs felt my fibroids would keep growing.
I can suggest you research the types of hysts. Here is a Hyster Sisters link that goes over the different types of hysts:
https://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/hsa...p?s=&id=152317
Best wishes. Hyster Sisters has a great bunch of ladies to help you out with your questions.
Mary
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08-25-2005, 07:24 AM
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Guest
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Posts: 195
Hysterectomy: January 31st, 2005
Surgery Type: LAVH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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fibroids vs cancer?
Hi,
I had an mri and every doc that saw my scans said "looks like just fibroids" . My earlier ct scans suggested far worse condition- so ask for the mri to ease your mind and help your docs. Beware of doctors who try and scare you with the cancer stuff...I had one who after cancelling a hyst, sicked his nurses on me with scary cancer calls.
They can't really tell you more without pathology. You may have a few choices and need to seek them out if you are wanting to avoid major surgery.
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08-25-2005, 08:08 AM
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Guest
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Posts: 38
Hysterectomy: July 19th, 2005
Surgery Type: TAH/SAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Right side pain
I too had excruciating pain in my right side. I could hardly stand it. I missed alot of work before my surgery.
I had a endometrial ablation(lazered the inside of my uterus) done in 2003 (no fibroids at the time). I haven't had any bleeding since. In May 2005, I started having that pain. Went to the doc. Diagnosed with very large fibroid which was in a degenerative state. After surgery, he told me when he cut open the fibroid it looked like tar inside and that was why I was in so much pain. My fibroid was on the right side of my uterus. They gave me pain pills but taking 2 aleve worked better for me.
I'm so glad it's over and I don't have that pain anymore. The pain from surgery was a breeze compared to the pre-op pain in my side.
Understand what you're going through.
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08-25-2005, 08:10 AM
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Guest
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Posts: 38
Hysterectomy: July 19th, 2005
Surgery Type: TAH/SAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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fibroids vs cancer?
I meant the aleve worked before surgery for the pain in my side. After surgery I took 2 percocet every 4 hrs for a week.
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08-25-2005, 09:13 AM
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Guest
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Posts: 961
Hysterectomy: August 5th, 2004
Surgery Type: SAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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fibroids vs cancer?
I agree, request an MRI. But I believe the incidence of tumors resembling fibroids is much lower than 2%. (I've been curious about that figure which I've seen before if it applies to each suspected fibroid or just to the woman. Otherwise I had a 24% chance of cancer since I had 12 fibroids - that hardly seems logical.)
You can also opt for a myomectomy, which is surgical removal of only the fibroid. Since you haven't complained about bulk or bladder pressure, I'm guessing it's not much bigger than an orange. If you find the right doctor you can have it removed laproscopically and the recovery time is quite short. It might ease those symptoms (pain & heavy bleeding) though probably not the irregular cycles (that's your ovaries).
There is no "need" for a hysterectomy for fibroids unless they are damaging other organs. Doctors sometimes don't put things in perspective about the risks of hysterectomy and some of us end up worse off for it.
If I were as close as you are to menopause (I was 38 and had a large belly already from the fibroids and bladder pressure) I would either opt to ride it out another couple of years for menopause or get a myomectomy as the chances of more fibroids growing is quite low. I would not have a hysterectomy.
Take care and let us know how it goes.
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08-25-2005, 10:12 AM
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Guest
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Posts: 38
Hysterectomy: July 19th, 2005
Surgery Type: TAH/SAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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fibroids vs cancer?
I will be 48 in a couple of months. I had a degenerating fibroid which was quite large and my uterus was very large. If you think you can deal with the pain you don't have to have a hyst. But at our age you don't know when menopause is going to start or be over. We know it's close, but how close? Every woman is different. I was already having hot flashes. But, like I said if you can handle the pain. Fibroids do shrink (not die) in menopause but they continue to grow until then. In just the short time between May and July, I had to have abdominal instead of laproscopic because my uterus had enlarged too much. I would weigh the pros and cons before making any decisions. Talk to your doctor about other options.
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08-25-2005, 01:33 PM
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Posts: 4,793
Hysterectomy: April 22nd, 2004
Surgery Type: LSH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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fibroids vs cancer?
Hi Lucystone,
In answer to Juniper's question, my Dr. told me the rate of cancerous fibroids in women is approx. 1%.
Best wishes again,
Mary
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