54-year-old Nick Samiotis from Norwich is celebrating successful robotic surgery to treat his advanced oesophageal cancer. The procedure at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) has changed his view of his future retirement life. Diagnosis completely “came out of the blue.” This shift came after an unexpected, shocking diagnosis.
Samiotis started with a few rounds of chemotherapy to reduce the tumor before starting on a complicated 12-hour surgery. The surgery was performed using state-of-the-art robotic technology. In the end, this left him with just 15 tiny keyhole scars, greatly minimizing the trauma to his body that comes with an open surgery. He noted that had he pursued the latter path, he would have had a three-week hospital stay to consider. This would increase the duration of recovery, too.
“My family are massively relieved I’ve come through the operation and I’m standing 10 days later,” Samiotis said, reflecting on the support he received during this challenging time.
However pleased he is with the outcome of the surgery, Samiotis will now need to adjust to some very serious lifestyle changes. Initially, he will be placed on a liquid diet. As he continues to get used to his significantly smaller stomach, he’ll slowly move on to soft food. Even more chemotherapy is waiting for him down the line in his treatment plan.
Samiotis has never drank, smoked, or eaten processed foods, and taking care of his health has always been a priority for him. He thanked the heavens daily for the progress made in surgical techniques that paved the way for his operation to be possible. I think it’s going to be a great thing,” he remarked about his future, adding that he’d advise his younger self not to fret.
His daughter, Tabitha, 38, has been a constant anchor and support through all of this. Another thing that stunned her was the amazing advances in surgical approaches due to newer techniques just in the last few years. “I remember talking to the nurse and they told me that three years ago this surgery wouldn’t even have happened,” she said. “In the end, you just have to trust the professionals.”
Surgeon Nicholas Penney emphasized the benefits of robotic surgery, stating, “We are seeing them leaving hospital quicker and getting back home and to normal life much sooner.” This sentiment was echoed by James Hernon, who described robotic surgery as “fast becoming the future of surgical practice.”
His mom says Samiotis recovered surprisingly quickly after his surgery. And just nine days later than that, he was back out walking his dog! “I feel quite amazing… as soon as I’ve finished here, I’m off to take the dog for a walk!” he exclaimed.
