Oscar-winning actress, Lupita Nyong’o, has opened up about the return of her uterine fibroids, revealing that one of the growths is as large as an orange.
Naija News reports that the 42-year-old movie star, in an interview on NBC’s ‘Today Show,’ recounted her history with the reproductive health condition and stressed the urgent need for greater awareness and better treatment options.
Lupita Nyong’o disclosed that she was first diagnosed with fibroids in 2014, and was experiencing a whirlwind of mixed emotions, grappling with severe, persistent pain alongside her career triumph.
She said she underwent surgery to remove the fibroids shortly after her diagnosis, but was warned by her doctor that their return was highly likely.
She said, “Back in 2014, I won an Academy Award. And in that same year, I was diagnosed with fibroids. I was experiencing high high and low low at the same time.
“I had heavy bleeding. I had pelvic pain, among other symptoms. I asked my doctor what caused them, but he did not really give me an answer.
“I asked what I could do to treat them. All I was offered was surgery or pain. I chose surgery.
“I asked my doctor what can I do to make sure they do not come back, and he said it only a matter of time. And then I learnt that 80% of women have fibroids by the age of 50.”
According to Nyong’o, doctors often use fruit analogies to help patients visualise the size of the fibroids.
The actress revealed that 12 years after the surgery, she currently has over 50 growths, with the largest being the size of an orange.
She stressed, “Now, 12 years later, I have my fibroids again. I have doubled the amount of fibroids. And I am still been offered the same option, surgery or live with the pain.
“Doctors usually use fruits to help a woman understand the size of her fibroids. Mine was the largest. The size of an orange.
“… the first time I got the fibroids taken out, they took out 23. And this time, I’ve been informed two years ago that I have over 50.”
