Newswise — For the 80% of African American women who will develop uterine fibroids sometime in their lives, hysterectomy is no longer the only solution.
That's the main point being made by the organizers of "Fibroid Relief at Last," a unique, first-of-its-kind event in Chicago, bringing together patients, medical experts and support groups dealing with this common problem, where the main symptoms are discomfort, abnormal bleeding, frequent urination and painful sexual intercourse.
Each year tens of thousands of women are diagnosed with uterine fibroids, often facing a difficult choice: put up with the symptoms or undergo a hysterectomy. And not only are African American women at a greater risk of getting fibroids, they tend to develop them at an earlier age.
But today, there are safe, effective alternatives to hysterectomy " non-invasive, non-surgical options that do not sacrifice a woman's uterus or ovaries. The least invasive treatment " and also the least well-known " is something called Focused Ultrasound. This new therapy harnesses high-frequency sound beams, thousands of them, like sunbeams focused through a magnifying glass.
The sound beams pass through healthy tissue harmlessly. But where they converge " at the site of the fibroids " they generate just enough heat to destroy them, or shrink them and render them harmless. It's quick, effective, and pain-free.
The organizers of the event, a patient advocacy group called Fibroid Relief, report that over 5,000 women worldwide have already had the Focused Ultrasound treatment. And 20 centers in the U.S. now offer this FDA-approved procedure.
Joy Polefrone, Executive Director of Fibroid Relief, predicts that Focused Ultrasound will become increasingly popular as more women " and doctors " learn about it.
"The reality is that most physicians aren't yet aware of it," Polefrone says. "Or they're more comfortable with traditional surgical techniques. But we think it's critical that patients know all of the treatment options " including Focused Ultrasound " so they can choose what's most appropriate for them."
The "Fibroid Relief at Last" event is also an opportunity to learn more about the Chicago Fibroid Project, an initiative led by Dr. Leonard Lawson M.D., and Dr Richard A. Mintzer, MD, FACR, who will be participating in the event. Dr Lawson is an African American gynecologist with expertise in the noninvasive management of fibroids. The Chicago Fibroid Project is inviting African American Women who have health insurance to go through an assessment process to see if they are suitable for focused ultrasound treatment, and will help with some of the expenses that the insurance companies may not cover.
"Uterine fibroids greatly affect a woman's self esteem, energy, mood, sexual-desire, and social well-being" , states Dr Lawson. "I'm one of several doctors in the Chicago area who are spreading the word about non-invasive treatments for uterine fibroids " to educate women that there are alternatives to surgery, and to let women know that they aren't alone. We want to encourage women to start talking about fibroids and empower them to discuss choices for treatment with their physicians that best suit them. This event will encourage patients with fibroids to ask lots of questions, and hear about the experience of a patient who found relief with Focused Ultrasound" .
"I'm amazed at how well women tolerate the procedure, how quickly they recover, and most importantly, how effective this procedure is", adds Dr Richard Mintzer, the Medical Director at the center where the procedure take place.
Frances Thomas is a patient who sought treatment with focused ultrasound after initially being told that she should have a hysterectomy. "I dug in my heels and said no to hysterectomy because I really wanted to keep my uterus and I was worried about having traditional surgery" , says Frances, who was relieved to find out that she was suitable for Focused Ultrasound. "I did a lot of research, and now I feel like I made the right choice, and my choices in life are still wide open. And what was really incredible was that I went back to work almost immediately" .
"Fibroid Relief at Last" will take place on Tuesday, June 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Northwestern Memorial Hospital " Prentice Women's Hospital, 250 E. Superior Street, Conference Room L-North. Free. Families welcome. Refreshments and light food provided.
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