Clarke

Better treatment of a major women's health issue has started in Jamaica.

The presence of fibroid tumours are becoming more and more of a common issue among Jamaican women. It is a problem which causes pain in the pelvic region, an abnormally enlarged abdomen, and pressure on the urethra and bladder, resulting in urinary frequency and even kidney failure.

Dr Freddie Clarke, consultant radiologist at X-ray and Diagnostic Ultrasound Consultants Limited, noted in a release recently, that the minimally invasive process, which the country began using in mid-August, has been shown to be a safe and effective treatment option for women to consider.

"This procedure most often obviates the need for surgery whether it be hysterectomy, which removes the entire uterus or myomectomy which removes the fibroids only," Dr Clarke said.

Growth

He added that with the procedure, Uterine Fibroid Immobilisation (UFE), the blood that flows to the fibroid is blocked, interrupting its growth and resulting in considerable reduction in its size.

Fibroid tumours are usually benign growths, the doctor explained, which arise from the muscular wall of the uterus and can range in size from very tiny to as large as an advanced pregnancy.

He said women who are being considered for UFE are required to do a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scan of the uterus to determine if the fibroids can be embolised, to detect alternate causes for symptoms and to identify unsuspected cancer.

He added that recurrence of treated fibroids with UFE is very rare.

"On average 90 per cent of women who have had the procedure experienced significant or total relief of heavy bleeding, pain or bulk-related symptoms," he noted.

Tumour embolisation procedures for various conditions have been performed for the past 30 years in Jamaica.

UFE is an internationally established form of treatment and Dr Clarke said he hoped Jamaican women would utilise the option.