Boru Juku’s Chika Tanabe underwent surgery to remove an ovarian tumor, a “crisis that quietly creeps up on everyone.

Growing huge without any symptoms

I didn’t have any subjective symptoms at all. It was really like, ‘I never thought it would be me. ……

So said Tomoka Tanabe, 41, of the comedy quartet “Boru Juku. On her YouTube channel, she revealed that she had undergone surgery to remove a 6 cm ovarian tumor.

She was diagnosed with a benign ovarian tumor called a “dermoid cyst. It is a type of teratoma that contains a mixture of fat, hair, and teeth, and is particularly common among women in their 20s and 30s.

It is not uncommon for tumors to grow in a completely asymptomatic state, as is the case with Ms. Tanabe. According to Dr. Yoshitaka Mizutani, gynecologist and director of Wakaba Family Clinic, the ovaries are called “silent organs.

Ovarian tumors often do not show symptoms until they reach a certain size. This is especially true for benign tumors such as dermoid cysts. Some patients, like pregnant women, are seen only after their bellies have grown.”

In fact, Ms. Tanabe’s tumor was discovered not by a gynecologist, but by a routine checkup at her internal medicine department. When she underwent an imaging test of her abdomen as part of her routine blood tests, she was advised to see a gynecologist after it was pointed out that there was a shadow on her ovaries. Unless there is an accidental detection, early treatment is difficult.

In many cases,” said Dr. Kato, “it is quite common for an ovarian abnormality to be discovered by chance when a patient undergoes an abdominal ultrasound or CT/MRI scan for other purposes. It is very important for doctors from other departments to notice them, as they did in this case.

Dr. Mizutani emphasizes the importance of cooperation and awareness with other departments.

As age increases, malignancy…

In recent years, more and more ovarian tumors are being found in younger people, partly due to increased health consciousness.

The specific cause of dermoid cysts is not well understood. We have not found a clear cause-and-effect relationship with the constitution or lifestyle habits that predispose to the condition. It is not so much that the number of dermoid cysts is increasing, but rather that they are becoming easier to detect due to increased opportunities to be screened for them.

People are becoming more aware of their own health, and health-related information is becoming more readily available through the media and social networking services, leading to an increase in health literacy. I believe that this has led to earlier medical examinations and early detection.

However, determining whether an ovarian tumor is benign or malignant is not a simple task. It is not something that can be determined by appearance alone, and surgery is often required for a definitive diagnosis.

Echocardiography, MRI, and tumor markers can provide some predictions, but the final determination is made by removal and pathological examination. About 80% of ovarian tumors are benign, but the percentage of malignant tumors increases with age.

When facing diagnosis and treatment, the understanding and support of not only the patient but also those around them is a major key. Dr. Mizutani says that family members and partners need to be especially careful in their encouragement.

It is important not to forcefully encourage them. Words like, ‘Don’t worry, you are worrying too much,’ can actually put pressure on them. A sympathetic attitude, such as, “Let’s look into it together,” or “Thank you for talking to us,” is supportive.

Dr. Mizutani also encourages women to “start with what you can do” to overcome the current situation in which many women feel they have a high hurdle to go to a gynecologist for a checkup.

She also recommends that women “start with what they can do.” “Uterine cancer screening is recommended from the age of 20, and I think it is important to have regular checkups to lower the hurdle to gynecological examinations. If you are not comfortable with a gynecological examination, an abdominal ultrasound may be helpful.

If you have subjective symptoms such as a distended abdomen, an ultrasound examination can be performed at a medical or surgical office with insurance. If necessary, you can consult with a gynecologist again.

Mr. Tanabe concludes the video by saying, “I never thought I would have it in me.

I never thought it would be me. But now I am really glad that I went through with the test.

I am sure that by publicizing her experience of facing and overcoming her fears, many women have decided to go for checkups. I hope that you will not overlook a slight feeling of discomfort, and that you will not think that it is nothing serious, even though you are concerned about it” (Dr. Mizutani).

Silent tumors may be quietly progressing inside the body, even in those who think they have nothing to do with them. Ms. Tanabe’s experience has served as an opportunity to open one’s eyes to this reality.