Man 'blown over' by pioneering tumour treatment

A father-of-four has had bladder tumours removed as an outpatient at a Kent hospital through a pioneering new technique.

David Payne, from Herne Bay, watched on-screen as surgeons removed a small tumour from his bladder via a procedure known as trans urethral laser ablation.

The 67-year-old, who underwent the procedure last week at Kent and Canterbury Hospital, says he was "absolutely blown over by the experience and the technology".

Mr Payne had a previous tumour removed under general anaesthetic four years ago at an East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust hospital.

He said he was "a little bit nervous" before undergoing the new procedure, as he feared it might not be as effective.

"But it was exactly the same, just without the general anaesthetic," he said.

"I watched it on screen. I could see everything, and it was just like watching a documentary. I was even able to direct the consultant to where the tumour was."

The procedure saw lead consultant for superficial bladder cancer, Georgios Papadopoulos, insert a thin flexible tube with a camera and light into Mr Payne's urethra.

He then took biopsies of the tumour before it was removed using a laser.

Any remaining cancer cells were killed using chemotherapy.

Mr Papadopoulos said: "This is a major step forward in how we treat patients with small tumours in their bladder."

The Prostate Cancer Support Association Kent donated two laser machines, while the League of Friends of the Kent and Canterbury Hospital also helped provide funding.

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