uterine polyp

I am 42 years old with 2 children. I have a history of large fibroids for many years. They never caused any problems for me. A few months ago I started having heavy periods with blod lots passings sometimes. I had an ultrasound done and the doctor found 3.4 cm polyp. My previous ultrasound was 8 months ago with no polyps found at that time. I am scheduled for polyp removal on June 4th and really scared. Can such a rapid growth of a polyp indicate a malignancy? What are the chances of the polyp being benign? My doctor does not seem to be concerned but I am. I am not on any medication with the exception of lexapro.

thank you in advance for your answer.

[Elaine Brown, MD]

Hi!
The VAST majority of polyps are benign.  They can contain atypical/premalignant
cells, or even a small focus of malignant cells.  The very good news is, that most polyps are benign, if they do have "bad" cells, removing them is a cure.
In the extremely unlikely event that the cells have become malignant and spread outside the polyp, removal of the uterus might be necessary, but would also be a cure.

Good luck!

Dr B

[sheba_7]

Hello,

I am a 53 yr old African-American female with one adult son.  Shortly after his birth, I discovered a few lumps in my breasts.  Over time those cysts multiplied and resulted in my having a Lumpectomy to remove benign breasts tumors from both breasts in 1996.  Since that time, the lumps have increased and resulted in my having a needle aspiration (for the 2nd time) in 2008, which showd no cancer.

Simultaneously, I was diagnosed with Uterine Fibroid Tumors, heavy menstrual cycles, which led to me developing severe anemia.  Against my better judgement, I followed a regime recommended by a VA Gynecologist that included birth control pills(Lo/Ovral.28) for 2 cycles (3 months each) in order to stop the bleeding and took Iron pills to rebuild my blood count.  The doctor insisted that she was weighing the odds against "the greater good."

Well my concern about increasing the risk of exacerbating an existing breast condition turned out to be true.  Last Oct 2009 when I had my annual mammogram and sonogram, the lumps in my breasts had tripled or quadrupled in number, in comparison to the breast images taken in 2008!  In some areas of my breasts the lumps have taken on a distorted shape that looks like ink blotches than actual lumps.

A breast biopsy was performed in Oct 2009 and a recent 6month follow-up sonigram shows no cancer.  However, I am scared out of my wits.  Although I have been advised to have a hysterectomy (removing both uterus and ovaries), I am fearful of following the advise of VA doctors.

The questions that I pose to these Doctors are not being answered, for example:
1) Was my original breast condition caused by hormonal changes developed during my severe (painful) menstual cycles as a young woman?

2)  If the breast condition was caused by hormonal changes, how will the hysterectomy effect my breast after the operation?

3) Is the current hormonal change (increased estrogen/decrease progesterone, or vice-versa) the reason that I have this breast condition?

4)  My breasts are only size 34B, the fibroids tumors makes my uterus the size of a 2-3 month pregnancy.  What is the best overall soultion to curing both my breasts and my uterus condition?  

Many Thanks

[sallyj456]

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