Home and Away actress Sarah Roberts has had surgery to remove a fibroid the size of a golf ball, following a series of emergency room visits caused by its symptoms. The 41-year-old, known for playing Willow Harris between 2017 and 2021, shared updates about her operation on Instagram.
Repeated Emergencies Lead to Surgery
Roberts posted pictures from hospital alongside her boyfriend Jake, who flew back from Canada to help her walk. In her caption, she recalled the timing of her procedure: "This time last week, I would’ve been in the theatre, or just coming out. Not the type of theatre I usually go to!"
She underwent a myomectomy, a surgical procedure that removes non-cancerous uterine fibroids while keeping the uterus intact to preserve fertility. Roberts nicknamed the removed fibroid "Felicia," though she admitted she does "wince in pain as I laugh at my own joke."
Sharing the Experience
Describing the fibroid's impact, Roberts said: "She’d grown to the size of a golf ball, sending me to emergency whenever my period came and making it impossible to do anything without looking like I’d stepped off the set of Kill Bill!" She added that her anaesthetist mentioned operating on a woman with a fibroid the size of a beach ball the week before.
The actress reflected on her recovery, noting it felt "weird" to do nothing all day. "I guess we’re not machines?" she wrote. "We’re souls who need music, connection, hand-holding, laughter and little pockets of joy. Kit-Kats, friends, family, dumplings, potato crisp deliveries, sunflowers and an amazing future husband who actually looks after you."
Gratitude and Reflection
Roberts expressed gratitude for the kindness she received, from her boyfriend flying back from Vancouver to help her walk, to a fellow patient who buttered her toast. She also mentioned funny photos from friends, surprise nighties from Canada, and messages from Barcelona.
She concluded with a reminder to herself that "constant productivity doesn’t equal worth," adding: "We need wonder, connection and rest, too. Life isn’t a to-do list. It’s a gift."
Fibroids, like the one Roberts had, are common non-cancerous growths in or around the womb. They may not always require treatment but can cause pain in the stomach and lower back, especially during periods, and can lead to fertility issues, iron deficiency anaemia, and urinary tract infections.
