Aya Hirano has a Twitter account

On November 2, voice actress and singer Aya Hirano (23) revealed on her Twitter account that she has a tumor in her pituitary gland (also known as a pituitary adenoma). Although such tumors are fairly common, they are often harmless and go undiagnosed. In some cases, such as Hirano's, they may cause symptoms due to pressure on the optic nerve.

The revelation started when Hirano casually mentioned that her doctor has advised her not to consume spicy foods, cold foods, and alcohol. She then noted that she has had migraines since about 10 years ago when she was in junior high, and her pituitary tumor was discovered at that time. Although she considered getting surgery during junior high, she decided against it because she was told it could cause damage to her nose (since pituitary gland surgery is done through the nose). More importantly, she said the surgery could have affected her voice, and she had just started working as a voice actress at the time.

The tumor is not malignant, but due to the pressure on the optic nerve, Hirano occasionally experiences loss of vision or difficulty in speaking. However, she said she is fine, and that she has gotten used to the condition and knows how to cope with it. She also visits the hospital almost every year to have it checked. Laser surgery is now an option, but she does not plan to have it done since the condition is not urgent.