A woman whose watermelon-sized tumor prevented her from being intimate with her boyfriend was given “the gift of a renewed life” after the mass was removed.
Jennifer, 56, from Coarsegold, California, first noticed a spot growing on the right side of her abdomen in 2014, which “exploded in size” in 2019.
By the time she saw a doctor that year, the mass had ballooned to almost 6 pounds, by which time she could no longer work on the farm and felt too self-conscious to have sex with her boyfriend Bill.
But when the growth was finally removed, he said: ‘My confidence level is through the roof. I feel really good.’
And a few weeks after her surgery, Jennifer broke up with Bill.
She said: ‘Before, when I had the tumour, being intimate wasn’t too much on my radar. I didn’t think much about it.
“And now that I don’t have the tumor, it’s very liberating.”
Jennifer first noticed a spot growing on the right side of her abdomen in 2014.
Jennifer said on this week’s episode of TLC’s Take My Tumor that she had never received a proper diagnosis of her tumor.
Jennifer said after the removal: ‘There has been a dramatic improvement in my quality of life since having the tumor removed. I feel so different now. I feel lighter. My confidence level is through the roof. I feel very good’
Jennifer said on this week’s episode of TLC. Take my tumor that she had never received a proper diagnosis of her tumor and when she visited a doctor in 2019, the doctor was shocked and did not know who to refer Jennifer to.
Jennifer said: ‘[In 2019] That’s when I got a little scared.’
However, determined to get his life back, the ranch owner discovered surgical oncologist Dr. Kimberly Dalal, who was able to remove the tumor.
Jennifer said: “Things like this affect you in a different way psychologically than you would ever imagine.”
The 5.74-pound tumor was seriously interfering with his life. She could no longer venture on her favorite hiking trails with her dog and her boyfriend, help on the farm they owned, bend over or lift heavy objects.
It was even difficult to walk for long periods of time.
Additionally, Jennifer said the tumor “greatly” affected her intimacy, as it crushed her confidence and she felt very self-conscious around her partner.
The tumor made her feel unattractive, and as the mass grew, the distance between the couple also increased.
He hoped that removing the mass would restore his self-esteem.
For her surgery, Jennifer traveled to San Francisco to meet with Dr. Dalal, medical director of surgical oncology at Sutter Health Mills Peninsula Hospital.
After examining Jennifer, Dr. Dalal became very concerned about the veins running through the mass and told Jennifer that the tumor could be a rare form of cancer. He said it needed to be removed as soon as possible and sent for testing.
Jennifer said: “Once you face the possibility of it being cancerous, it’s just emotional.” To be examined, to be cared for, and to finally have it done, you know, it’s a little overwhelming, I guess.’
Jennifer said she felt too self-conscious to have sex with her boyfriend Bill because of his tumor.
A few weeks after her surgery to remove the growth, Jennifer broke up with Bill.
On the day of surgery, Dr. Dalal told Jennifer that her goal was to remove the entire mass, including cutting away some healthy tissue surrounding the tumor to ensure that every piece was removed and that the tumor would not grow back, so fear that it was a rare cancer. .
But cutting deeper into Jennifer’s muscle meant a more painful recovery.
While the procedure was largely uncomplicated, the large veins and blood vessels along the tumor were bleeding more than the surgeon expected.
Dr Dalal said that because the tumor was so large, it had developed its own blood supply. And every time the surgical team touched a vein, blood spurted out forcefully and fell to the operating room floor.
Dr. Dalal said she found more bleeding than expected, but was able to remove the entire mass.
A week later, the doctor called Jennifer with the pathology report. Her tumor was malignant.
The results showed that the mass was a solitary fibrous tumor, a rare growth of soft tissue. The growths can develop anywhere on the body, but are most common on the lining around the lungs.
For her surgery, Jennifer traveled to San Francisco to meet with Dr. Dalal, medical director of surgical oncology at Sutter Health Mills Peninsula Hospital.
Dr Dalal said that because the tumor was so large, it had developed its own blood supply.
In Jennifer’s case, the tumor was classified as a soft tissue sarcoma, a type of cancer that develops in muscles, tendons, fat, lymph nodes and blood vessels.
It is a rare type of cancer that accounts for less than one percent of all cancer cases in the U.S. Some research has shown incidence rates of between two and five cases per 100,000 people.
In 2024, the American Cancer Society estimates 13,600 new cases of soft tissue sarcoma, with 5,200 deaths.
Despite the diagnosis, because the entire tumor was removed, Dr. Dalal said Jennifer is considered cured, although he sent Jennifer for repeat body scans to see if the cancer had spread.
Three months later, Jennifer was happy to report that further scans showed she was cancer-free.
A week after surgery, the doctor called Jennifer with the pathology report. Her tumor was malignant.
Despite the diagnosis, because the entire tumor was removed, Dr. Dalal said Jennifer is considered cured.
She said: ‘There has been a dramatic improvement in the quality of my life since having the tumor removed.
‘I feel so different now. I feel lighter.
‘My confidence level is through the roof. I feel really good.’
Once the tumor was gone, Jennifer started walking again and going out with friends.
She said: “It feels amazing to be able to get out into nature.” I have so much energy. It feels amazing… I feel like I’ve been given the gift of a renewed life.’
Jennifer added that she broke up with her boyfriend but they remain close friends.
She said: ‘Before, when I had the tumour, being intimate wasn’t too much on my radar. I didn’t think much about it.
“And now that I don’t have the tumor, it’s very liberating.”
Take my tumor Airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on TLC.
