Breast cancer survivor Chhavi Mittal undergoes fibroid surgery: ‘Not afraid, just irritated’

Chhavi Mittal, a breast cancer survivor, recently underwent surgery to remove a fibroid, sharing her experience on Instagram. The actor revealed that the fibroid had grown rapidly due to the Tamoxifen medication she was taking. Expressing her feelings, Mittal stated, "I hate this. This constant going back to square one and finding myself ‘recover’ then ‘restrengthen’ only to spiral back when I feel it’s all behind me. I'm not afraid, just irritated."

Dr. Jeyhan Dhabhar, a Consultant Medical Oncology and Immunotherapy Expert at Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre in Mumbai, explained that uterine fibroids are common, non-cancerous growths arising from the uterus' muscle. They may not cause symptoms in many women, but surgery could be necessary if they significantly impact a woman's quality of life, such as heavy bleeding, severe pain, urinary issues, or fertility problems.

The type of surgery depends on factors like the patient's age, symptoms, fibroid size and location, and whether fertility preservation is desired. Myomectomy, removing only the fibroids, or hysterectomy, removing the uterus, might be recommended. For cancer survivors, the risk of fibroid surgery depends on the type of cancer, previous treatments, and current health. Dr. Dhabhar emphasized that it's crucial to individualize the approach for each patient, considering their specific circumstances.