Fibroid Removal Surgery Side Effects

Uterine fibroid removal surgery presents a number of side effects and risk, as do all surgical procedures. A uterine fibroid removal surgery that has been surging in popularity lately is called laparoscopic uterine fibroid morcellation. Billed as a cheap, safe and easy way to remove uterine fibroids, many patients have no idea about the hidden dangers of this procedure.

Fibroid morcellation is a routine, minimally invasive surgery that offers an alternative to more complicated fibroid surgeries like hysterectomies. The procedure starts with a keyhole incision into the abdomen, followed by the insertion of a “morcellator” into the uterine cavity. The morcellator is a rotary blade device that shreds the fibroid tissue into fine pieces – morcellate means “to mince.” The cuts it makes into the uterine wall weakens the tissue and can complicate pregnancy, but that is hardly the only side effect of this fibroid surgery.

Uterine Fibroid Surgery Side Effects: Increased Cancer Risk

An undiagnosed uterine cancer may look like a fibroid, or there may be cancerous cells around the fibroid that gets shredded by the morcellator. According to studies by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), about 1 in 350 women who undergo fibroid morcellation will develop cancer such as uterine leiomyosarcoma (ULMS). This happens when the morcellator shreds and spreads preexisting cancer cells around, allowing them to migrate and metastasize. This supposedly “safe” fibroid removal surgery poses a serious cancer risk.

Avoid Fibroid Surgery Side Effects: Diet, Weight Loss and Hormone Therapy

Although most women will develop fibroids within their lifetimes, there are ways to avoid the side effects and risks of fibroid removal surgery. Diet is an extremely important factor in the growth of uterine fibroids. Xenoestrogens are present in many processed foods and products and contribute significantly to uterine fibroids. Xenoestrogens are “foreign” estrogens that disrupt the body’s natural estrogens, creating the hormonal imbalance that leads to uterine fibroids. Interestingly, xenoestrogens are most commonly found in cosmetics, from sunscreens, toothpastes and soaps to hairsprays and shampoos. Xenoestrogens are found in most lipsticks, as well. Eschewing processed foods and cosmetics that contain xenoestrogens and other endocrine disruptors may over time help shrink fibroids. Losing excess weight also helps to restore hormonal balance and thus fight fibroids. If diet and exercise have no effect, hormone therapy may be considered, although it is usually an expensive and ongoing treatment.

Side Effect Victims

Women who developed Uterine Cancer, Stomach Cancer or Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) after undergoing Fibroid Removal or a Hysterectomy may be eligible for compensation. Don’t let your valuable legal rights expire – request a free case review by visiting:

Click here to receive your free case evaluation.

The post Cheap and Easy Fibroid Removal Surgery Has Some Serious Side Effects appeared first on Citizens Report.

Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) works by injecting small particles to block the blood vessels feeding the tumors. Without a blood supply, the fibroids wither, die and detach from the uterine wall within a matter of days. The particles—“emboli”—are delivered via a very thin catheter inserted into the femoral artery of the upper thigh and, from there, all the way to the uterus. UFE is typically an outpatient procedure performed under local anesthesia, and it takes about an hour. Keep in mind UFE is a routine procedure performed by an interventional radiologist, not a doctor.

UFE is one of the safest and least invasive fibroid removal procedures available today; however, it still has a few downsides. However, when compared with the potential complications of surgical treatments—infection, hemorrhaging and even increased cancer risk—the side-effects of UFE are minimal.

“Postembolization syndrome” (PES)

Consists of menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, nausea, generalized discomfort and other flu-like ailments. The majority of women who undergo uterine fibroid embolization will develop post-embolization syndrome—the rate is over 80%—and most report symptoms starting within 3 days of the procedure and lasting anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks. Post-embolization syndrome results from a combination of inflammation around the blocked blood vessels and and harmful toxins released by fibroids as they die.

PES is the most common, but not the only, side-effect of uterine fibroid embolization. Because they have no way of knowing how much stress UFE has put on the uterine wall, many doctors recommend patients go on birth control for at least 6 months after the procedure. Although there are many documented cases of successful, natural pregnancies following UFE, doctors will sometimes recommend cesarean sections to avoid rupturing the uterine wall.

Patients with fibroids that are too large to be treated by UFE or other minimally invasive procedures and who are reluctant to submit to a serious surgery should talk to their doctors about hormone therapy. Hormone therapy can be used to shrink fibroids over time, gradually making them amenable to a non-surgical treatments like embolization.

Side Effects

Women who developed Uterine Cancer, Stomach Cancer or Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) after undergoing Fibroid Removal or a Hysterectomy may be eligible for compensation. Don’t let your valuable legal rights expire – request a free case review by visiting:

Click here to receive your free case evaluation.

The post Uterine Fibroid Embolization, a Safer Alternative to Surgery appeared first on Citizens Report.