Fibroids and cancer

[TheFuckfaceWhisperer]

I was in hospital for a blood transfusion a few months ago, I was in for 5 days and while I was there, I had an internal ultrasound to find out why I bleed so much. They found a fibroid "12 weeks" pregnancy size... No more was mentioned about it really.

My own GP more or less dismissed it as just one of those things women get.

I was telling a friend the other day, joking I'll never have a flat stomach since I'm pregnant with a three month fibroid. She was horrified and said I need to get it taken out or it will turn into cancer. I said I'm not sure they do that... (I'm no expert, mind, but nobody mentioned this at hospital or doctor's), and she was insisting that fibroids are the early stages of cancer and I have to have it removed and possibly even have a hysterectomy to get rid or I'll end up with full blown cancer!

Is she right? Should I be seeing the doctor again? She's not always correct about things... She once told me sunbeds were good for you because they use the same rays they use to kill cancer...

I have a three month fibroid!!! And a couple of others. Seems there's a party going on in there!

They are, in the main, non cancerous. But talk to a medic if you are overly concerned.

I quite like the fact that i can blame the fibroids for never having a flat stomach again and not have to admit to a chocolate habit!

Fibroids are not cancer. There's some confusion terminology used in descriptions of them which may lead to some people thinking that's the case but no need for your friend to be such a dick and panic you like that. If there was a chance they would have it whipped out of you asap.

I've had ivf and during two cycles of it they noted I have a fibroid. Same one, two years apart. It's been looked at during scans for other things and they aren't bothered by it at all. I'd like it removed as I think it makes my periods heavier and more crampy but as it causes no other harm they aren't bothered.

My sisters have fibroids. My DM had them (before she had a hysterectomy in her 50's). They're very common and benign.

However I think you should make an appointment to see a female, (tend to be more sympathetic ime) GP, to discuss your fears. Tell them what your friend said, say it's worrying you and ask if they can explain more clearly what your situation is and can they reassure you.

I'm not medical in any way btw. Just my experience. I wouldn't take any notice of your daft pal though.

Aw thanks for the answers! I need to see somebody about perimenopause symptoms anyway, mainly my stupid body temperature forgetting how to work correctly! Dreading the summer if I'm this hot now

Hello.i had a hysterectomy 4 weeks ago due to a jumbo fibroid (20 week pregnancy sized!) which was causing extreme anaemia. I didn’t google too much but what I did read suggested they are virtually never cancerous. Nevertheless, they do send them off to be checked and I got a happy letter yesterday saying all was normal.

Now I don’t want to be telling you what to do (but I’m about to😂) - I wouldn’t accept your GP dismissing it. There are things they can do to reduce them and you will need to keep an eye on your iron level. I can’t tell you how good I feel having got rid of my ‘melon’, I hadn’t realised how uncomfortable it had got til it wasn’t there anymore. It had been growing away quietly for 10+ years. I’m done having kids so a hysterectomy was the right thing for me but there are other options. You don’t need to put up with it.

Your friend obviously has little to no medical knowledge. Google. Fibroids are non cancerous growths.
Often treatment does not involve removing them but other more non invasive procedures.
Often symptoms stop with the menopause but you shouldn't have to thole it til then
If you are getting heavy periods Id ask for a gynae referral. See another GP you dont have to put up with heavy periods.
My fibroids were treated by embolisation. A radiologist threaded a canula from groin blood vessel to uterine vessells and blocked the blood vessells feeding the fibroid. It worked well, symptoms gone almost immediately . I was in hospital overnight ( may have got out earlier but I was vomiting due to the morphine)

Maybe she got confused with polyps?

I wonder if she is confusing the HPV virus and cervical cancer risk? Or polyps and bowel cancer?

Footsall, great minds!

I've just had mine removed, but not because they are cancerous. Generally they cause few issues on their own but can do in conjunction with other things such as endo. There are lots of different types too.