Some women who have been diagnosed with cancer after a hysterectomy or myomectomy claim that the cancer spread due to morcellation of uterine fibroids.

These women claim that the use of a power morcellator during their fibroid surgery resulted in their cancer diagnosis, as the morcellation of uterine fibroids led to cancerous cells being spread to different parts of the body.

While morcellator lawsuits do not claim that the fibroid surgery gave them cancer, these lawsuits do generally allege that the malignant cancer tissue was spread and worsened because of it, ultimately worsening a patient’s chance of survival.

Morcellator lawsuits claim that companies who manufacture these morcellator devices, especially Ethicon, either knew or should have known of this danger associated with the morcellation of uterine fibroids.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with cancer after a hysterectomy or myomectomy fibroid surgery using a power morcellator, you may be able to file a morcellation lawsuit.

Power Morcellator Risks

A tool known as a power morcellator has been in use by surgeons across the U.S. since 1991, when it was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The morcellation of uterine fibroids is a process by which unwanted tissue is cut and shred in the body cavity, in order that it may be removed in smaller, more manageable pieces.

However, reports of power morcellation complications associated with gynecological surgeries such as hysterectomies or myomectomies have been increasing in recent years.

During a fibroid surgery, a power morcellator cuts up uterine fibroids for removal. If the uterus or uterine fibroids contain some form of uterine cancer, the power morcellator, cutting tissue into tiny pieces, can actually spread cancer cells throughout the body.

Most women develop these kinds of fibroids, but usually they do not cause symptoms, and so in most cases are not at risk. For other women, these fibroids can cause prolonged menstrual bleeding, as well as pelvic pain and other unwanted symptoms.

According to the FDA, approximately 1 in 350 women who undergo the morcellation of uterine fibroids will have undetected uterine cancer that can spread to other parts of the body, taking root and becoming a potentially life-threatening cancer.

The cancer risks include leiomyosarcoma. Leiomyosarcoma is a very rare, very aggressive cancer, and would be extremely dangerous if spread throughout the body.

Power Morcellator Lawsuits

A growing number of people have begun filing power morcellator lawsuits, alleging cancer diagnosis after a surgery that involved the morcellation of uterine fibroids. These plaintiffs allege that, had they been adequately warned about the potential dangers of power morcellation, they would not have agreed to the procedure.

If you or someone you know has undergone a surgery where a doctor has used a power morcellator, and have since contracted cancer, you may be able to file a morcellator cancer lawsuit.