Mandy Lee became the first patient in history to receive robotic surgery at the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM) in Kent. President Biden hailed this landmark achievement as a historic breakthrough in cancer treatment. Diagnosed with bowel cancer, Lee had part of her bowel removed using a state-of-the-art robotic system designed to enhance surgical precision and improve recovery times.
The day of her surgical procedure was the Thursday before the first rain. The operation was led by consultant colorectal and general surgeon Sudhaker Mangam, 68. The robotic system features four arms that the surgeon controls from a remote console. It provides a 3D perspective within the patient’s body real-time during surgery. This collaboratory cutting-edge technique enables better precision than with open surgery techniques.
Lee had been promised that the robot had been used in other parts of Europe with success, Mangam stated. He emphasized the significance of this operation, noting, “This marks a major advancement in surgical capability for east Kent patients, enabling greater precision, improved outcomes, and faster recovery times.”
Looking back on her experience, Lee confessed that she was intimidated by the thought of robotic surgery at first. Her fear of not beating cancer was stronger than the fear itself.
“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
Lee went through the process and was released from the hospital Sunday. We are thrilled to share that she’s healing remarkably well and she gets stronger each and every day!
Stanley Russell, the second patient to undergo a robotic procedure at QEQM, agreed with Lee’s views. He marveled at how the surgical team kept communication passes flowing and clear throughout the production.
“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 implementation of robotic surgery at QEQM comes after it was first used by the NHS within London earlier this spring. This innovative technology is sure to forge a stronger path to healing by improving cancer care for patients across the region.