Woman Finds Rare Tumor After Years of Misdiagnosis

When doctors told 28-year-old Brittany Pope she needed a hysterectomy, she refused to give up on her dream of having more children.

For four years, Pope endured intense abdominal pain and bloating that grew worse between her irregular periods. The Erie, Pennsylvania resident saw at least eight doctors who found cysts on her ovaries and suggested removing her uterus. But Pope, the youngest of nine siblings, kept searching for another answer.

"I was so young," she said. "Was that really the only option?"

Pope's medical journey was already complicated. Doctors had discovered she was born with two separate uteruses, a rare condition called uterus didelphys. She also had only one kidney. These unusual findings made diagnosing her worsening symptoms even harder.

Blood tests showed something striking: four different hormones were dangerously elevated. Her estrogen level was more than 20 times too high. One hormone called 17-OHP measured nearly eight times above normal.

"I've seen all of those hormones elevated individually, but it's unusual to see all of those elevated at the same time and to that magnitude," said Dr. Stephen Mooney, the reproductive endocrinologist who treated her at Cleveland Clinic.

Pope faced a major setback in October 2023 when her right ovary twisted, cutting off its blood supply. Emergency surgery removed her right ovary and fallopian tube, reducing but not ending her chances of pregnancy.

Still, she kept advocating for herself. Another specialist, endocrinologist Dr. Laleh Razavi, ordered an MRI of Pope's head. The scan revealed the answer: a small tumor on her pituitary gland, the pea-sized organ at the base of the brain that controls hormones.

The tumor was producing excess prolactin, causing Pope to produce breast milk even though she wasn't pregnant or nursing. More importantly, specialists discovered the tumor was likely causing many of her other symptoms too.

Why This Inspires

Pope's story shows the power of trusting yourself when something feels wrong. Despite years of doctors suggesting surgery that would end her ability to have children, she kept seeking answers. Her persistence paid off with a diagnosis that opened the door to different treatment options.

Now Pope has a path forward that doesn't require removing her uterus, keeping her dream of expanding her family alive.