Watch: Dr. Thomasena Ellison on misconceptions about fibroids

Dr. Thomasena Ellison says there is a small percentage of the time that a fibroid is removed or the uterus is removed because of fibroids.

TheGrio Staff

Jul 26, 2023

During an episode of theGrio’s series, “Unheard,” Dr. Thomasena Ellison, associate director of gynecology at Maimonides Medical Center in New York addressed misconceptions about uterine fibroids.

Uterine Fibroids are benign solid tumors formed by muscle tissue. Its size can vary greatly and some cause large abdomen increase.
(Adobe Stock) — Uterine Fibroids are benign solid tumors formed by muscle tissue. Its size can vary greatly and some cause large abdomen increase. (Adobe Stock)

Check out the transcription of the conversation below.

Dr. Thomasena Ellison: There are lots of misconceptions. Fibroids are not cancer. Fibroids tend not– and I will use the word tend–not to be cancer. There is a small percentage of the time that a fibroid is removed or the uterus is removed because of fibroids. And as we know, all tissue in a hospital setting that’s removed goes to pathology, where that tissue is examined to confirm that it is not a cancer. And there is a small, small portion of the time that we do those procedures and it is a cancer.

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Ellison: This is why when a patient presents with a complaint or complaint that is associated with uterine fibroids, there is a workup evaluation that goes on prior to her having a surgical procedure or being recommended for a surgical procedure, and that is telegraphic evaluation that includes blood tests. Sometimes that includes an endometrial biopsy that’s done in that office and along with a photographic evaluation and maybe an MRI that’s also associated. Those things those pieces put together will kind of allow your health care provider to be comfortable with the fact that this is a uterine fibroids, which is a non cancerous condition, as opposed to something that could be cancerous, that your treatment modality, your treatment conversations would be quite different.