Mandy Lee, 68, was one of the first patients to have her bowel cancer robotic surgery. She received the pioneering treatment at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM) in Margate. On that same Thursday, surgeons took out a length of her bowel. This procedure represented a major step forward for the region’s surgical capabilities.
Diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2018, Lee was unsure at first about having robotic-assisted surgery. She was encouraged by her medical team, who told her that the robot had been shown to be successful in similar procedures throughout Europe.
“It was a bit of a scary thought, I hadn’t even considered the possibility of robotic surgery, but I just wanted the cancer gone and I wasn’t put off.” – Mandy Lee
The surgery was performed by Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon Sudhaker Mangam who highlighted the advantages of robotic-assisted surgery. The robot extends four arms, which the surgeon guides from miles away. This arrangement provides an interactive 3D look at the patient’s body throughout the whole procedure. This tech-centric approach is helping to make precision the default, and that’s critical to increasing patient health outcomes.
“This marks a major advancement in surgical capability for east Kent patients, enabling greater precision, improved outcomes, and faster recovery times,” Mangam stated.
According to Lee, the surgical team was very detailed in their explanation of the procedure and its advantages. She went on to explain that the robotic approach would be much less painful compared to a more traditional invasive surgery. In fact, this information was instrumental in her decision to advance.
After her surgery, Lee spent a few days in the hospital recovering and went home on Sunday. She has been fairly explicit about how happy she has been with her results so far, saying that she is feeling better each day since the surgery.
Stanley Russell, who had the same robotic prostate surgery shortly after Lee, echoed those sentiments about his experience. He commented on how effectively the team conveyed information about the procedure and its benefits.
“The team explained everything really well and said it would be less painful than going through more invasive surgery, so that made sense to me.” – Stanley Russell
The introduction of robotic surgery at QEQM comes after the service made history earlier in 2023 for being the first NHS use in London. Hospitals are in a mad dash to keep up with this cutting edge technology. Consequently, patients such as Lee and Russell can expect improved surgical outcomes and quicker recovery times, paving the way for a new era of medical treatment for those with bowel cancer in east Kent.