Capital cancer treatment

A new regional centre of excellence for complex cancer surgery has been launched by Guy’s Cancer.

The centre will specialise in pelvic cancers such as prostate, ovarian and testicular cancer.

Guy's Cancer Pelvic Surgical Centre is the first of its kind in London and will care for patients from the capital and across south east England. It will provide specialist colorectal, gynaecology and urology surgery under one joint team.

Dr Majid Kazmi, Chief of Cancer Services at Guy’s and St Thomas’, said: “Our cancer services have a strong reputation for pioneering new techniques and treatment for patients. This centre will open up that expertise to more people than ever before.”

Procedures carried out include pelvic exenteration for patients with advanced cancer. These are major operations during which some of the organs of the pelvis are removed.

Teams from the different surgical specialties will now see patients jointly in clinics and have regular theatre days for shared operating sessions to improve treatment and outcomes for patients with pelvic cancers needing complex surgery.

With the three specialties meeting to review patients and discuss treatment plans before their first appointment, that time can be used more efficiently and treatment plans started sooner.

The only other Pelvic Surgical Centres in England are in Bristol (Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust) and Exeter (Wonford Hospital, Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust).