A WOMAN has opened up about how the contraceptive pill left her with two benign liver tumours.
Mackenzie Hammond, 30, from California’s Orange County, suffered hepatic adenomas — a rare tumour that has been linked to taking the Pill.
InstagramMackenzie Hammond, 30, from California’s Orange County, has opened up about how the contraceptive pill left her with two benign liver tumours[/caption]
balancewithkenzScans showed she had two hepatic adenomas — a rare tumour that has been linked to taking the Pill[/caption]
She had been taking the pill for 13 years before the heartbreaking diagnosis in January this year.
Since then she has had to undergo biopsies and may have to have surgery, while she is putting plans of having children on hold.
Ms Hammond came off the oral contraceptive pill as soon as her liver specialist spotted the tumours on scans, and said it was one of the best decisions she’s ever made.
In a video on TikTok, Ms Hammond said: “I was diagnosed with two liver tumours caused by a medication that I took for 13 years — hormonal birth control.
“I can confidently say getting off of birth control has been one of the best things I’ve ever done for my health.
“I was also taught the most important lesson of all and that’s being the CEO of my own body.
“I will never put my health in anyone else’s hands ever again.”
Hepatic adenomas are extremely rare, and are thought to occur in just 0.01 per cent of the population.
They are most common in women of childbearing age between 20 and 44 and are usually benign.
Research has linked the tumours to the contraceptive pill, with experts suggesting the high levels of oestrogen could interact with the liver, which normally metabolises hormones.
Ms Hammond told Newsweek: “I had to go off of it the same day I saw my liver specialist.
“The tumours are benign right now and fortunately, most liver tumours caused from birth control are, but when these type of tumours grow to surpass 5cm there’s an increase in rupture and malignant transformation.
“This means that the tumour can turn into cancer in the future.”
Her largest tumour is currently 5.8cm and she hopes the tumours will both start to shrink now she is off oestrogen.
Around 78 per cent of hepatic adenomas reduce in size once a patient comes off hormonal birth control.