Rare double cancer surgery aims to extend woman’s life
A woman from Ilford is recovering after a rare and highly complex double-cancer procedure to treat bowel cancer that had spread through her body.
Surgeons carried out a major cancer operation called a total pelvic exenteration, where all organs in the pelvis affected by cancer are removed including parts of the bowel and bladder.
This was followed by a second procedure called heated chemotherapy inside the patient’s abdomen to destroy any tiny cancer cells that cannot be seen or removed.
The surgery lasted more than 12 hours and took place in our Elective Surgical Hub at King George Hospital.
Procedures like this are performed to extend a person’s life expectancy when their cancer has spread to nearby organs and is only suitable for a small number of patients. Recovery from this type of major surgery typically takes several months.
This is only the third time our Trust has carried out this double surgery, and planning took place over several months and involved close work between our specialist teams.
This included Sandeep Kaul and Nirooshun Rajendran from the complex colorectal team, bladder surgeon Sandeep Gujral, and anaesthetist Baskaran Sabapathipillai, who all worked together to plan and carry out the operation safely.
Colorectal Surgeon Sandeep Kaul said:
The staff were fantastic, and within our Elective Surgical Hub we have the benefit of immediate access to intensive care after surgery, which makes a real difference for patients undergoing such complex operations.
It is a difficult job, but we are very grateful and fortunate to do it. We see patients who are grateful for the care they receive, and that is what makes it worthwhile for us.