Woman carried huge tumor on her back for 30 years, neighbors called her "monster" (photos, video)

Woman carried huge tumor on her back for 30 years, neighbors called her "monster" (photos, video)

- A woman who carried a huge tumor on her back for 30 years has had it successfully removed

- The tumor started growing when she was in her 20s but her family did not have money to pay for its removal

- Neighbors in her rural area called her a monster and kept her away from their children

A woman in Madagascar who carried a huge tumor on her back for 30 years, prompting allegations by neighbors that she was the victim of black magic, has had it successfully removed.

Mariette carried the tumor for 40 years

The tumor started growing when the woman, identified only by her first name Mariette, was in her 20s but her poor family could not afford money to have it removed.

It eventually grew 20 inches wide and weighed 9kg, causing neighbors to shun her, keep their children away from her and call her a monster.

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The tumor grew 20 inches wide and weighed 9kg

During an interview, Mariette said: "Neighbors told their children, 'The monster was going to get them.' That was the most difficult part. They told their kids to be afraid of me and not to get too close to me."

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Fortunately, volunteer surgeons visited her hometown in Madagascar and successfully removed the tumor in October 2014. For the first time since her 20s, she could lie on her back.

Volunteer surgeons successfully removed the tumor

Mariette did not let her condition, known medically as Lipoma and which was fortunately non-cancerous, affect her. She found love and now has six children and six grandchildren.

See more on Mariette's story in the video below.