Where is Claudia now? Dr Jason Cohen removes 'ice cream cone' shaped lump from 'Take My Tumor' patient's butt
HOUSTON, TEXAS: Claudia, a 50-year-old from Houston, Texas, was featured in episode 2 of TLC's new show, 'Take My Tumor', who has had an "avocado" growing on her buttocks more than a decade. Dr Jason Cohen of Los Angeles, California, took matters into his own hands and cut off the menace, giving Claudia the bottom of her dreams.
Claudia returned to Texas four weeks later, saying she had seen a "big improvement" in her life after the lump was removed. Her recuperation progressed better than she imagined, and she is no longer in agony whether sitting, driving, or getting ready, allowing her to buy smaller clothes.
She revealed, "Without the growth, I feel much better about myself, and that was a big issue for me."
While Claudia is not yet ready to date, she is looking forward to the future now that she is no longer ashamed of her tumor.
She noted, "I don’t have to worry about anything else; I just go on with my life."
Who is Claudia on 'Take My Tumor'?
The grocery employee discovered a growth on her buttocks around ten years ago, when it was the size of a golf ball. Claudia now describes how it feels like a rotting avocado: soft with a firm "pit" in the center.
Despite its progression over the years, Claudia said she delayed having the lump evaluated because she was terrified of what physicians might find, which could be cancer. Claudia's tumor is a soft tissue mass.
These common masses are cell growths that can be found anywhere in the body. They can develop slowly or fast, be round, oval, or sausage-shaped, and are often noncancerous (approximately 99 percent of the time).
The causes vary, but data shows that certain genetic diseases and mutations predispose people to developing the masses. There is typically no evident reason, but additional causes include injury, illness, and lifestyle choices.
Some benign growths may not require removal, but bigger or more bothersome ones can be removed surgically. Not all soft tissue masses generate discomfort, and it is typically determined by their position.
Claudia has difficulty sitting, driving, and getting dressed because of her buttocks. She stated on the TLC show that she had to buy garments in a larger size to fit them over her mass and then rearrange the growth in her underwear and pants to make them lie nicely.
What happened to Claudia on 'Take My Tumor'?
Claudia works two jobs to distract herself from the growth, but when her family and friends pressed for an examination, Claudia found Dr Cohen, a surgical oncologist in Los Angeles.
She said, "This has been an emotional roller coaster for quite a while. I need in my life and health back."
Claudia proceeded to California to visit with Dr Cohen, who stated that the soft tissue mass was in an unusual place that might interfere with healing, with a 30-percent possibility of a post-operative complication. However, he was certain that he could safely remove it.
The surgeon revealed, "Patients come to me because I'm cautious, but I'm confident. I'm not going to abandon you. I'm going to be there for you, and together we'll figure out what's going on."
After the lump was removed, it was submitted for testing to determine whether it was malignant. Claudia was pleased that Dr Cohen would be able to remove it, but she was concerned about the anesthetic and the recovery period.
However, after just one hour, the doctor was able to remove the entire tumor, which he characterized as an "ice cream cone" since it was deeper than expected, and further testing revealed that it was benign.
Who is Dr Jason Cohen on 'Take My Tumor'?
Dr Cohen founded The Surgery Group of Los Angeles and serves as the Co-Director of The Breast Center. He is a world-renowned expert in thyroid and parathyroid surgery.
"I'm cautious, but I'm confident, and I've had, fortunately, some amazing outcomes," he remarked during the show.
'Take My Tumor' airs on Wednesdays at 10/9c on TLC.
