Size:
Size alone should never be an indication for surgery for fibroids. Historically when fibroids were about 14 weeks size it was advised that women have surgery but these days in the absence of symptoms of fibroids; heavy bleeding, pressure symptoms or infertility there is no reason to have an operation just because of size.
Fear of cancer:
The risk of cancer developing from a fibroid is very low. Different studies give different estimates but less than 1:1000 (0.01%) women who are admitted and have surgery for fibroids are found to have cancer.
Leiomyosarcoma is the type of cancer associated with fibroids. It actually develops from the muscle of the womb rather than the fibroid itself. Though leiomyosarcomas have been reported in young women it is commoner in women over the age of 60 i.e. in the menopausal years
Does rapidly growing fibroids mean cancer?
Rapidly growing fibroids does not mean cancer in a review of over 1322 women, 371 of who were operated on for rapidly growing fibroids none were found to have cancer.
Despite this evidence it is best if the older woman does have rapidly growing fibroids she should be investigated.
It must be said however that even though it is possible to diagnose Leiomyosarcoma before operation by means of ultrasound and MRI, very few are diagnosed before surgery.
The majority are diagnosed by pathology studies after the uterus or fibroids have been removed.
And life expectancy after the diagnosis of Leiomyosarcoma is not very good.
Therefore in the older woman who does have rapidly growing fibroids, investigations should be carried out and if inconclusive a hysterectomy is usually the operation of choice.
Size alone should never be an indication for surgery for fibroids. Historically when fibroids were about 14 weeks size it was advised that women have surgery but these days in the absence of symptoms of fibroids; heavy bleeding, pressure symptoms or infertility there is no reason to have an operation just because of size.
Fear of cancer:
The risk of cancer developing from a fibroid is very low. Different studies give different estimates but less than 1:1000 (0.01%) women who are admitted and have surgery for fibroids are found to have cancer.
Leiomyosarcoma is the type of cancer associated with fibroids. It actually develops from the muscle of the womb rather than the fibroid itself. Though leiomyosarcomas have been reported in young women it is commoner in women over the age of 60 i.e. in the menopausal years
Does rapidly growing fibroids mean cancer?
Rapidly growing fibroids does not mean cancer in a review of over 1322 women, 371 of who were operated on for rapidly growing fibroids none were found to have cancer.
Despite this evidence it is best if the older woman does have rapidly growing fibroids she should be investigated.
It must be said however that even though it is possible to diagnose Leiomyosarcoma before operation by means of ultrasound and MRI, very few are diagnosed before surgery.
The majority are diagnosed by pathology studies after the uterus or fibroids have been removed.
And life expectancy after the diagnosis of Leiomyosarcoma is not very good.
Therefore in the older woman who does have rapidly growing fibroids, investigations should be carried out and if inconclusive a hysterectomy is usually the operation of choice.
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