Doctors successfully operate on woman who was 'pregnant' for 10 YEARS (photos)

- A woman carried a “baby bump” for ten years

- It was actually a benign tumor what she had inside her belly

- But when it got too big, she decided to undergo surgery

A 42-year-old British woman who had a tumor inside her stomach for ten years, has published some viral before-and-after photos.

Maria Christofi looked pregnant all this time, but it was only when the tumor got so big it was testing her self-confidence that she decided to surgically remove it. She said: “It had begun affecting my day to day life."

Christofi was diagnosed in 2007 with a fibroid, which is considered a benign tumor. At first, she experimented with natural alternatives to surgery, such as herbal medicines, acupuncture and exercises, although these methods only helped with relieving pain, the problem was still there.

About a year ago, the tumor grew to such a size of about 17 cm that she looked 28-weeks pregnant. People on the streets started assuming she was about to give birth, so she even made up a due date, in order to avoid further questioning.

An acupuncturist finally removed the large mass last month, and the result is amazing!

Now that Christofi is free from the fibroid, she is more optimistic about the future. For instance, she was unable to have children, but now that dream could come true.

Christofi says she is very happy to have had the surgery, and is now more optimistic about the future.

Around one in three women develop fibroids, mostly between the ages of 30 and 50. They often come with heavy or painful periods, and they can lead to anemia.

Fibroids also cause pain in the abdomen lower back and legs, apart from bloating. Other symptoms are frequent urination, constipation, as well as pain or discomfort during intercourse.