Camilla to have hysterectomy today

Camilla to have hysterectomy today
Press AssociationMonday March 5, 2007
Guardian Unlimited
The Duchess of Cornwall was expected to undergo a hysterectomy operation at a private hospital in London today.
Camilla, 59, arrived at the exclusive King Edward VII hospital last night.
The duchess returned to the UK a few days ago after a 10-day tour of the Gulf with the Prince of Wales and a further day in Banjaluka, Bosnia, with the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards to mark St David's Day.
In Qatar, on the fifth day of the tour, there were some doubts whether Camilla would attend an evening engagement, visiting a traditional Arab market.
But later that day a Clarence House spokesman said the duchess would join the prince for the event. "She's had a good rest and is coming along," he said.
The duchess arrived at the private hospital in central London in a chauffeur-driven car just before 11pm last night.
The medical centre is the first port of call for royals and is where the Queen had her knee operation.
The duchess will spend several days in hospital and rest for six weeks afterwards, with planned engagements postponed.
Clarence House described the operation - the removal of the womb - as routine and said it was not cancer-related, but refused to discuss Camilla's condition further.
About one in five women in the UK is given a hysterectomy before the age of 60.
The operation can be performed for several medical conditions including fibroids ("lumps" in the uterus), cancer, and endometriosis, when small pieces of the womb lining stick to other parts of the body, such as the bladder.
Fibroids or irregular bleedings can occur in women taking hormone replacement therapy.
Other reasons can include painful pelvic inflammatory disease, caused by infection or prolapse, where the uterus or part of the vaginal wall drops down as a result of weak tissues.
The royal couple visited five countries in total during the demanding trip to the Arabian peninsula and on one occasion it appeared the engagements were taking their toll on the 59-year-old.
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