Nick Samiotis, a 54-year-old man from Norfolk, recently underwent an innovative robotic surgery known as an oesophagectomy at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH). This complex procedure represents a major breakthrough for patients fighting advanced stage oesophageal cancer. The complex, 12-hour surgery by surgeon Nicholas Penney, which employed the cutting-edge Da Vinci robot, was the kind of high-tech undertaking most commonly associated with metro areas.
Diagnosed just days before his third birthday in August 2025, Samiotis was in for a big battle with cancer. He did go through several rounds of chemotherapy before the operation in hopes of shrinking the tumour first. This preparatory therapy made him a candidate for the less invasive robotic surgery, which he was able to receive. Therefore, his keyhole scarring was kept to a minimum, with only 15 small keyhole scars remaining on his entire body.
Best known for its vast robotic system, the Da Vinci was developed to increase control and accuracy in surgeries. Each bespoke instrument that attaches to the robot costs around £200 and has a short lifespan of ten uses. Dr. Nicholas Penney Nick has a strong background in both physics and robotics. To conclude, even he felt the need to manually cut some incisions on the fly during the operation.
Before flying home, Samiotis said he was thankful for the cutting-edge technology that made his minimally invasive surgery a success. He pointed out that traditional open surgery would have meant a three-week hospital stay. Furthermore, he noted that without this failure, recovery would have taken a lot longer.
“It’s a lot less trauma to the body so your recovery period is much reduced,” said Samiotis.
Just nine days post-surgery, Samiotis was walking again—and even taking his dog for walks. His rapid recovery is a testament both to his resilience and to the success of that surgery. To be sure, he has even greater challenges looming. These are things like needing more rounds of chemotherapy and having to adapt to a liquid diet, then soft foods due to his new, smaller stomach.
His daughter reflected on the advancements in surgical technology, saying, “I remember talking to the nurse and they told me that three years ago this surgery wouldn’t even have happened, but in the end, you just have to trust the professionals.” She highlighted her father’s fighting spirit, noting, “You’ve got to be positive; he’s a fighter.”
The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital is now recognized as the largest provider of multi-speciality robotic surgery at a single site in the East of England. This program was made possible in part with a major £2.8m donation to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospitals Charity.
James Hernon, an expert in robotic surgery, commented on the growing trend in surgical practices, noting that such technology is “fast becoming the future of surgical practice.”