Talented singer, dancer and actor FKA Twigs is usually shrouded in mystery thanks to her unusual performances and notoriously private personal life. 

But yesterday (9 May), in an uncommonly intimate post to her Instagram, she confirmed that she underwent surgery to remove six “excruciating” fibroid tumours from her uterus in 2017 - and that the procedure had “knocked her confidence as a woman”.

Aware of her usual tendency to be overtly private, Twigs started her post explaining the hesitation she initially felt at sharing the news: “Dear friends, I am a very private person as you all know and I have gone back and forth in my mind whether to share that this year, I have been recovering from laparoscopic surgery to remove six fibroid tumours from my uterus.”

Likening their size to fruit, Twigs described the growths as “two cooking apples, three kiwis and a couple of strawberries” which resulted in a whole “fruit bowl of pain everyday.”

As well as the painful side effects of her tumours, Twigs was keen to stress the detrimental effect suffering from an illness can have on your mental health and how she doubted if her “body would ever feel the same again.”

“I had surgery in December and I was so scared,” she wrote. “Despite lots of love from friends and family I felt really alone and my confidence as a woman was knocked.” 

Giving context to the video next to her caption, showing her fabulously executing a pole dancing performance, Twigs explained that for the “first time in a while” she felt like her “strong self again”, calling the feeling “magical.” 

 She continued: “Thank you precious body for healing, thank you for reminding me to be kind to myself, you are a wonderful thing, now go create and be other once again.”

To finish her post, Twigs addressed the bravery and strength of the women who have been through a similar experience, writing: “You are amazing warriors and you are not alone. You can get through this.

“…and with this I let go of the pain.”

Fibroid tumours are benign, abnormal growths that appear on a woman’s uterus with symptoms and sizes that vary depending on the individual. The NHS explains that one in three women usually experience symptoms, which made include: 

• heavy periods or painful periods
• tummy (abdominal) pain
• lower back pain
• a frequent need to urinate
• constipation
• pain or discomfort during sex

If you experience any of these symptoms persistently, the NHS recommends that you see your GP. 

Images: Getty