Three months filled with fear, uncertainty, and constant waiting. This is how a 44-year-old patient from Skopje describes the period from the appearance of her first symptoms to the surgery at Acibadem Sistina Hospital, where a cystic tumor formation originating from her right ovary and weighing almost 10 kilograms was removed.

Instead of living her everyday life, her days were filled with medical examinations, medical documentation, phone calls, and questions to which she had no answers for a long time. Her physical condition gradually deteriorated, and her fear grew even stronger after it was determined that the formation had increased significantly in size over a short period of time.

“At the end of April, I went to a gastroenterologist because of bloating in the upper abdomen, under my breasts. When they examined me, they told me to go to a gynecologist immediately. It never occurred to me that my problem was of a gynecological nature,” the patient says.

Her real ordeal and search for answers at various medical institutions began in mid-May. During the first gynecological examination, a mass measuring approximately 12 centimeters was noted. By the end of the same month, the formation had increased in size, reaching a diameter of approximately 17 centimeters.

“I began to feel fear and panic because I could see that the mass was growing very quickly. I had prepared all my medical documentation, including documentation from the oncology consultation, but I had no concrete answer as to when and how I would be treated. They told me to wait,” she says.

In the meantime, her daily functioning became seriously impaired.

“Physically, I looked like I was nine months pregnant. I had back pain, difficulty moving, and I couldn’t go to the bathroom normally. I kept calling and asking for help. I just wanted someone to help me and finally make me feel better,” the patient says.

The heaviest burden for her was not only the physical discomfort, but also the fear caused by the initial suspicion of a serious illness.

The turning point came when she presented for an examination at Acibadem Sistina Hospital with Dr. Josif Gjoreski, a specialist in gynecology and obstetrics. According to the patient, following the initial examination, he assessed that there was no room for further waiting and recommended that the surgery be performed as soon as possible.

“My ordeal ended the same day I came to see Dr. Gjoreski. I was very anxious and disoriented, but I am infinitely grateful to him because, during the first examination, without hesitation, he decided that I should undergo surgery as soon as possible. I finally felt that someone had heard me and that I would no longer be left waiting,” says the patient.

During the surgery, a large cystic tumor formation originating from the right ovary was found, filling almost the entire abdominal cavity.

“After opening the abdomen, we found a large cystic tumor formation originating from the right ovary, which filled the entire abdomen. A classic abdominal hysterectomy was performed, with removal of both ovaries and fallopian tubes. Additional samples were also taken for analysis and determination of the stage of the disease. The surgery went uneventful,” said Dr. Josif Gjoreski.

The removed material was sent for histopathological analysis, which will precisely determine the nature of the tumor formation.

For the patient, the surgery was not merely the completion of a medical procedure. It marked the end of a months-long ordeal filled with pain, fear, and uncertainty.

“I am happy that this is finally over. After all the fear, I felt hope again. Many thanks to the doctor and the entire medical team, who reacted immediately and helped me when I needed it most,” says the patient.