The lawyers at The Clark Firm, LLP are reviewing hysterectomy cancer lawsuits on behalf of women who developed aggressive cancer, including uterine sarcoma and leiomyosarcoma (LMS), after undergoing a hysterectomy using a morcellator.
Need a Texas Hysterectomy Cancer Lawyer? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one was injured by a morcellator, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit in Texas.
Hysterectomy Cancer Information
Every year, power morcellators are used in 55,000 – 75,000 laparoscopic hysterectomies. Unfortunately, there is growing evidence that they can cause the spread of cancerous tissue in the pelvis and abdomen, leading to aggressive forms of uterine sarcoma or leiomyosarcoma (LMS).
The problem is that there is no way to tell if a fibroid is actually cancer until after the tissue is removed. The FDA estimates that one in every 350 women who undergo a hysterectomy to remove fibroids actually has uterine sarcoma, and one in 500 has leiomyosarcoma (LMS).
What is a Morcellator?
Morcellators are specialized surgical tools that are used in minimally-invasive laparoscopic surgery. They are used to cut up tissue into small pieces, which can then be sucked out through a tube.
The safest way to use a morcellator is in a protective surgical bag, which is placed around the uterus before it is cut up. It significantly reduces the chance that tiny pieces of tissue will be left behind. However, bags are unpopular because they are cumbersome, flimsy, and difficult to use.
FDA Safety Warning for Hysterectomy Cancer Risk
April 17, 2014 — The FDA recommends against using morcellators for hysterectomies or removal of uterine fibroids. According to the Safety Warning:
“If laparoscopic power morcellation is performed in women with unsuspected uterine sarcoma, there is a risk that the procedure will spread the cancerous tissue within the abdomen and pelvis, significantly worsening the patient’s likelihood of long-term survival. For this reason, and because there is no reliable method for predicting whether a woman with fibroids may have a uterine sarcoma, the FDA discourages the use of laparoscopic power morcellation during hysterectomy or myomectomy for uterine fibroids.”
What is the Alternative?
Traditionally, hysterectomies were performed with open abdominal surgery — a painful procedure that could leave a 7-inch scar and require days of hospitalization. In the late 1990s, morcellators rapidly grew in popularity because of benefits like less scarring, faster recovery, and less pain than open abdominal surgery.
However, morcellators are not the only alternative to open abdominal surgery. In fact, there are a number of alternatives available for symptomatic uterine fibroids that do not increase your risk of cancer. These alternatives include:
- Surgical hysterectomy performed vaginally or abdominally
- Laparoscopic hysterectomy or myomectomy that does not involve morcellation.
- Catheter-based blocking of the uterine artery.
- High-intensity focused ultrasound.
- Drug therapy.
Need a Hysterectomy Cancer Lawyer in Texas?
Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.
Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”
The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $260 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact our Texas hysterectomy cancer lawyers for a free lawsuit review.
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