Uterine fibroids not cancer, can be treated, says doctor
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 21 2023: Uterine fibroids, the common growth in the uterus of women are not cancer and it can be cured, said Dr Phijam Dhaneshwor, Consultant Obstetrics and Laparoscopic Gynaecologist of Shija Hospital and Research Institute Private Limited.

Uterine fibroid is a common growth in the uterus.

About 70 women among 100 women selected randomly may have uterine fibroids.

While it can be cured, not all cases need treatment and surgery, he said talking to The Sangai Express.

People, particularly women who have fibroids usually have a fear that they will not be able to bear children after marriage.

While there are such cases that require the removal of the fibroids to be able to conceive, there are many cases where women are able to bear children and give normal birth despite having fibroids, said Dr Phijam Dhaneshwor.

Uterine fibroids not cancer, can be treated, says doctor

Fibroids are not cancer and people should not believe that fibroids are a result of bad deeds.

Women shouldn't panic just because they have fibroids.

It can be cured, he said.

The doctor said Shija Hospital conducts around 15 fibroid related operations in a month.

Uterine fibroid is common among women of child bearing age.

While it is common among women between 25 and 40 years, it has also been detected in young girls of 15-16 years in rare cases, he said.

Not all the uterine fibroid cases require treatment and surgery.

It is treated only when it causes discomforts and problems, Dr Phijam Dhaneshwor said.

A woman's uterus has three layers.

Fibroids develop in the middle layer.

99.9 per cent of fibroids are not cancerous, he said.

The treatment of fibroid depends on various factors including the age of the women, symptoms, location and size of the fibroid.

The size and location of a fibroid is determined using ultrasound.

Not all fibroids show symptoms.

If there are no symptoms and the size of the growth is small, then treatment is not required, he said.

On the other hand, treatment is required if the fibroid presents symptoms which include excessive bleeding during menstruation, abdominal pain, feeling of presence of a lump on the stomach when held with the palm, or unable to conceive.

The mode of treatment, however, depends on the condition of the patient.

The treatments include removal of the uterus along with the fibroid, removal of the fibroid only, prescribing medicine to shrink the size of the fibroid and administering medicine to reduce pain and excessive bleeding during menstruation.

The treatment through medicine is advised when surgical treatment is not convenient.

The treatment using medicine is not cure and is temporary.

Medication to shrink the size of the fibroid is prescribed for 3-6 months.

After the course of the medication, the condition may return.

The only and the ultimate cure is the direct removal of the fibroid or the removal of the uterus, said Dr Phijam Dhaneshwor.