UDAIPUR, India — Surgeons in India removed a 17.6-pound (8-kilogram) uterine fibroid from a 44-year-old woman, ending an 18-year period of severe pain and heavy bleeding, hospital officials announced Thursday. The patient, a resident of Bhilwara, had experienced chronic abdominal pain and abnormal menstrual bleeding for nearly two decades. After her condition worsened, she was admitted to Geetanjali Hospital in Udaipur, where diagnostic tests revealed a massive, irregularly shaped fibroid measuring 40 by 40 centimeters that occupied nearly her entire abdominal cavity. A surgical team led by Dr. Neelam Toshniwal and Dr. Divya Choudhary, under the guidance of Dr. Madhubala Chauhan, performed the 90-minute operation on Aug. 8. Due to the size and complex structure of the tumor, surgeons performed a hysterectomy to remove the mass along with the uterus. "Operating on a fibroid of this scale presents significant surgical and anesthetic challenges, particularly due to the pressure exerted on adjacent organs and the high risk of hemorrhage," the surgical team said in a statement. Anesthesia specialists Dr. Akshay and Dr. Poorva managed the patient's blood pressure drops during the procedure. The patient received three units of blood during treatment, spent one day under observation in the intensive care unit, and is now recovering. Medical experts at the hospital emphasized that women should not ignore symptoms such as prolonged heavy bleeding, persistent pelvic pain, or abnormal abdominal swelling, noting that early medical evaluation can prevent severe complications.