Outpatient tumour removal is ‘the way forward’

A grandfather who watched on screen as surgeons removed a small tumour from his bladder said it was a ‘perfect’ experience.

David Payne was the first east Kent patient to undergo the laser procedure as an outpatient, meaning it was carried out using only local anaesthetic and he was wide awake throughout.

The 67-year-old retired window cleaner, who also ran fast-food businesses, had a previous tumour removed under general anaesthetic four years ago, but said the new method was the way forward.

He said: “I was a little nervous to start with, and I worried it wouldn’t be the same procedure so it might not be as effective, but it was exactly the same, just without the general anaesthetic.

“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.

“I couldn’t be more appreciative of the whole team; it was a perfect job. They were so professional, kind and empathetic. They explained everything that was happening and this is definitely the way forward for me.”

The procedure, known as trans urethral laser ablation (TULA) took place at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital on Tuesday, and David was on his way home to Herne Bay just over an hour later. Lead consultant for superficial bladder cancer Georgios Papadopoulos inserted a thin flexible tube with a camera and a light into David’s urethra and then took biopsies of the tumour before removing it with a laser. Chemotherapy is then flushed through the bladder to kill any remaining cancer cells.

David, who has four children and eight grandchildren, said: “It was not painful at all. Having the camera inserted made me jump a bit, as did the snips for the biopsies, but it wouldn’t put me off having it again.

“I was absolutely blown over by the experience and the technology. I took great delight in watching the procedure, it was fascinating.

“I felt in very safe and professional hands and I am so grateful – I have just bought a campervan and having this procedure means I should have many more years to enjoy using it.”

His tumours were identified during an annual check-up using a camera to see inside his bladder, but his first cancer was diagnosed after he spotted blood in his urine.

He said: “When this first started it did feel a bit embarrassing but now I just go in and drop my trousers!

“It is really important to speak up if you have any symptoms and my doctor was excellent when I first went. I had the diagnosis before I’d even got home after the ultrasound scan, and the first surgery was less than three weeks later.”

Mr Papadopoulos, who worked with urology suite manager Erick Entrata to set up the new service, said: “This is a major step forward in how we treat patients with small tumours in their bladder.

“By delivering this service in an outpatient setting, we can treat patients more comfortably, safely, and promptly – without compromising on quality of life.”

Erick added: “This is another milestone for urology, that means patients can have the procedure done within an hour instead of having to spend all day in hospital.

“It also means we can free up theatre slots for more complex cases, helping to reduce waiting times.

“We are grateful to our Prostate Cancer Support Association Kent for donating two laser machines and to the League of Friends of the Kent and Canterbury Hospital for funding to make sure that our procedure room is laser safe.

“The launch of this service reflects the Trust’s commitment to innovation, early cancer intervention, and improving outcomes for patients.”