Supermodel Beverly Johnson speaks out to help women

Beverly Johnson, the first African American model to grace the cover of Vogue magazine, is speaking out to help women seek treatment for a common and often painful condition: uterine fibroids. Although up to 75% of all women in the U.S. are affected by uterine fibroids, non-cancerous tumors that grow in or on the walls of the uterus, many women remain uninformed about this condition and wait up to a year before finding treatment, often despite heavy bleeding, pain, weight gain and other symptoms.

Johnson is sharing her story to ensure that other women not only avoid silent suffering, but actively speak with other women and their health care provider about suitable treatment options. Women can read Johnson’s story and learn more about uterine fibroids and their treatment at www.Ask4Tell4.com.

“When I was diagnosed with uterine fibroids, I didn’t know a lot about the condition, and as a result I suffered for a long time, both physically and emotionally,” said Johnson. “Ask 4 Tell 4 is about educating women about the condition so they will not be embarrassed to talk about their symptoms or be afraid to discuss treatment options with their doctors.”

“Physicians should discuss all available options to treat fibroids with their patients,” said George J. So, M.D., an Interventional Radiologist at Torrance Memorial Medical Center in Torrance. “These days, in addition to hysterectomy, there are nonsurgical options that offer effective relief from debilitating symptoms but have fewer side effects and shorter recovery periods.”

One such treatment is uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), a nonsurgical procedure that usually takes less than one hour. An interventional radiologist inserts a catheter through a tiny nick in the skin to deliver microspheres (sand-sized particles) that block the blood supply to the fibroids, causing them to shrink. While a hysterectomy may require a six to-eight-week recovery period, UFE patients typically return to work and can resume normal activities within one week. UFE is covered by most insurance plans.

“Unfortunately many women still don’t know about UFE,” said Richard A. Reed, M.D., an Interventional Radiologist at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena. “There are many women who undergo hysterectomies never knowing they had an option. That is why we are committed to getting the word out.”

Beverly Johnson’s new website, www.Ask4Tell4.com, features the four questions she thinks all women should ask themselves and their health care provider about uterine fibroids, whether they currently have them or not. The site also includes the answers to these questions and information about a variety of treatment options. Additionally, women can join Johnson’s cause by sharing the information with four or more of their friends or family members through an instant e-mail message sent from the website.

“I hope that women across the country will join me in breaking the silence about uterine fibroids. I’m sharing my story so that others will be more confident and empowered to speak up,” added Johnson.

“Many women are looking for minimally invasive treatment options because they don’t want to undergo major surgery,” said Marc L. Friedman, M.D., an Interventional Radiologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. “The best way for a woman with fibroids to determine if she is a candidate for UFE is to consult with an Interventional Radiologist.”

Women can learn more about fibroid treatment options by calling to request a FREE information package or to get a referral to a Southern California physician who specializes in Uterine Fibroid Embolization: .