Fibroids: Surgery Is No Longer The Only Cure

Filed in archive Consumer Alert , Treatment , Women's Health on April 22, 2010

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April 23 marks the last day of the national "Fibroid Awareness Week" (April 19-23, 2010). But this doesn't mean that we should stop educating ourselves about fibroids.

The purpose of this annual educational observance is to disseminate accurate and timely information about diagnosis and treatment of uterine fibroids. For women who are between ages 30 and 50, there's a good possibility that they or someone close to them is suffering from uterine fibroids. At least 25 percent of women in the United States have symptoms of uterine fibroids. In fact, about 70 percent of Caucasian women and more than 80 percent of African American women have developed fibroids by the time they're 50 years old.

Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumors of the uterus. A woman may have one fibroid or groups of several fibroids. Fibroids range in size from less than 1 inch to more than 8 inches across, and many fibroids go undetected unless they cause symptoms. What makes uterine fibroids newsworthy, though, is that surgery is no longer the only treatment option. Previously, a woman might undergo a hysterectomy to treat her fibroid problems.

Today, though, there are non-invasive treatment options, for example, there's Focused Ultrasound, which combines MRI with focused, high intensity ultrasound waves. High intensity focused ultrasound, often called HIFU and MRI techniques have been utilized separately for years, yet their combination has allowed for advances in treatment potential due at least in part to the powerful imaging capabilities of MRI. Magnetic resonance imaging gives the physician a 3-dimensional view of the uterus and fibroids. It also provides real-time feedback about the temperature and tissue changes that occur as each fibroid is treated. High intensity sound waves are focused on individual fibroids much like a magnifying glass focusing the sun's rays - only the focal point is hot enough to cause cell death.

A nonprofit organization aimed at promoting women's health - Fibroid Relief - will host "Fibroid Relief At Last" - a free, educational seminar for women in the Los Angeles area on Tuesday, April 27 at 6 p.m. at the Marriott Marina del Ray. This event will feature gynecologists, holistic experts and radiologists who specialize in non-invasive procedures. A patient who has overcome fibroid discomfort will also speak.

Find out more about fibroids and checkout the above mentioned educational seminar about it.