The word “tumor” is never one that a patient wants to hear upon receiving a diagnosis.
After all, the word is an emotionally-charged one, rife with concerns regarding cancer and the fear of struggling through the treatment options to come. But what if we told you that’s not always the case?
Before you jump to conclusions, we urge you to remember that not all tumors are cancerous — and uterine fibroids are no exception.
Are Fibroids Cancerous?
While uterine fibroids are the most commonly occurring tumor in women today, the good news is that they’re generally not a cause for concern in terms of cancerous developments.
In addition to being generally benign in nature, research indicates that uterine fibroids are also not likely to increase a woman’s risk of developing other forms of uterine cancer. However, the only way to differentiate between a benign and malignant fibroid is to test a sample of soft tissue from the fibroid in question.
“Fibroids are almost always benign (not cancerous),” the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services explains. “Rarely (less than one in 1,000) a cancerous fibroid will occur. This is called leiomyosarcoma.”
Leiomyosarcomas are also referred to as “uterine sarcomas.”
If Fibroids Are A Type Of Tumor, Can They Become Malignant?
Uterine fibroids are unlikely to become malignant over time and, in the rare event that a woman does develop a leiomyosarcoma, it will likely be the result of a newly-developed fibroid as opposed to a preexisting one.
That being said, the National Uterine Fibroid Foundation (NUFF) has reported that “less than 1% of gynecologic malignancies are uterine sarcomas.” Additionally, of those cases of uterine sarcoma, the rate of incidence among women is approximately 1.7 out of every 100,000.
In short, most women will find that they do not need to be concerned about their uterine fibroids becoming malignant.
Where Can I Find Uterine Fibroid Treatment?
Despite the generally benign nature of fibroids, they can disrupt a woman’s overall quality of life as a result of their symptoms.
Specifically, as her fibroids grow, a woman may experience:
- Pelvic pain
- Pelvic pressure
- Excessive menstrual bleeding
- Urinary incontinence
- And more
Thankfully, non-surgical relief is close at hand with uterine fibroid embolization (UFE)! UFE is a minimally-invasive and FDA-approved means of eliminating uterine fibroids by blocking the blood flow to the tumor, thereby causing it to shrink away.
Here at Duval Vascular & Fibroid Center, we’re proud to offer UFE to our patients — as well as one-on-one care and diagnostics screenings — all in our state-of-the-art outpatient clinic.
To learn more about how UFE can help to keep uterine fibroids from cramping your style, or if you’re ready to schedule your appointment, contact us today by calling 904-423-6017! Your comfort is our top priority.
