Citing a recent case in which a uterine fibroid about the size of a basketball was removed from a 53-year-old woman, a Taichung physician urged women not to neglect symptoms such as irregular swelling in the lower abdomen, prolonged or heavy menstrual bleeding and lower back pain.
Hsu Chun-chen (許俊正), a gynecologist at Tungs’ Taichung Metroharbor Hospital said the patient, surnamed Huang (黃), had noticed her stomach slowly growing for about 10 years, but thought it was natural weight gain after giving birth to four children, because she did not feel any pain.
Pressed by her husband and friends, Huang went for a cancer screening at the Hospital about two months ago and was diagnosed with a 25cm diameter fibroid tumor in her uterus.
Hsu said Huang’s tumor was removed via myomectomy, a robotic surgery performed with four 1cm incisions on her stomach, instead of a traditional laparotomy that would have left a 25cm scar, and she was able to leave the hospital five days after the surgery.
“It is not that all fibroid tumors have to be removed with surgery, but a tumor this big will press on other nearby organs, such as pressing on the bladder causing frequent urination or pressing on the spine causing back pain,” Hsu said, adding that it was rare for a uterine fibroid to grow so large without obvious symptoms.
Most uterine fibroids can be detected with an ultrasound scan, Hsu said, adding that about 99 percent of uterine fibroids are benign, with only about 0.3 percent being malignant tumors.
“Do not be stubborn and neglect getting regular health exams,” Huang said.
Hsu urged women to see a doctor as soon as possible if they experience symptoms such as prolonged or heavy menstrual bleeding, enlargement of the lower abdomen, or lower back pain.
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