Oral contraceptives and liver tumors

[moni_stout]

Has anyone reading this ever heard of or experienced development of a tumor on their liver as a result of prolonged use of oral contraceptives? I had an MRI done today for some gall bladder issues and they noticed what appears to be a benign tumor on my liver. My doctor tells me that it is typical of women that are child bearing age that have been on the pill for a long time. If anyone has any experiences to share I would love to hear it right now.

Monica

 

[star_dust]

I haven't had this issue, I can say though, that I did have gall bladder problems for 4 years. They started about 6 months after I began taking the pill when I was 19. I didn't have stones apparently - the gall bladder it just stopped functioning well. Continuing to be on the pill, without knowing what was going on due to misdiagnosis, put a huge strain on my body because it eventually damaged my liver a little bit. It (my liver) did rebound very quickly after I had the gall bladder removed! Needless to say, I avoid taking the pill now. I hope all goes well with you.

annie

 

[amberwaves]

Hi Monica,
You didn't state what type of benign tumor, my guess would be a hemangioma. They are typically non-symptomatic unless they are near a major artery, I have one and did a significant amount of research on it. Check out this link...

http://www.emedicine.com/RADIO/topic136.htm


My 2 cents as a nurse and medical malpractice attorney is that typically the standard of care is to take another look by ultrasound in about 6 months. Sometimes they are misdiagnosed cancers. But, in the vast majority of cases that next ultrasound can confirm that it has not grown.

Physicians do not like to biopsy these unless it's very suspicious.

I know it's tough to take, I'm waiting one more month and having mine rechecked. So I'm still a little uneasy about it. But, do a google search, on liver hemangioma, it should put your mind at ease if indeed that is what you have.

good luck monica.
Amber

 

[moni_stout]

Hi Amber,
Thanks for the post! I went back for a second MRI today with an ink injection and the doctor came in afterward and told exactly what you said, a hemangioma. He suggested that I come back in 6 months to a year to have it rechecked. I definitely and going to sleep better tonight.

Monica

 

[Yvanna]

Hi Monica,

I have two lesions on my liver - (5cm and 3 cm) probably resulting from the use of oral contraceptives. It was found on a CT that I was having for follow up of my thyroid cancer.

Given my history - they ran tests to rule out metastases. At first they tested to see if it might be a hemangioma - as this is the most common benign lesion. So - I had an ultrasound and a red blood cell scan. It ended up that it wasn't a hemangioma. Then I had a 3-phase CT - which did not rule out cancer either - another ultrasound - and then had an MRI - it was then determined that it was something called a focal nodular hyperplasma - which is essentially a benign tumour. I will have another mri in December - and if it hasn't grown any - It will be left alone.

Generally - they do not do liver biopsies - unless the other tests cannot rule out malignancy at all. This is bc even though these lesions are benign ( and they usually are in the absence of other cancers) - they can bleed. I was actually scheduled to have one - and the radiologist on duty decided against it.

If this eases your worry any - i have to say that primary liver cancer is extremely rare - liver cancer is usually a result of metastases from another point (usually stomach or colon) and is usually at the end-stage. So - I think you would already have been having symptoms and pains etc AND - your MRI of the abdomen would have picked up other tumours if this were in fact malignant.

As someone mentioned - hemangiomas are the most common benign lesion of the liver - they are usually non-symptomatic..and most likely will be monitored for the first while - just to make sure they don't grow.

All that said - I know exactly how stressful this all is. Just know that it is very common to have benign lesions on the liver - many have it - but perhaps don't know bc they haven't had reason to have a CT or MRI etc.

Hope this helps.
Yve