Scots mum hails innovative robotic surgery for saving her life after cancer diagnosis

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A cancer patient from Glasgow has praised NHS staff after undergoing robotic surgery she says saved her life.Deborah Speirs, from the city's Tollcross area, was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer in March 2021 and, thanks to the innovative surgery and a dose of chemotherapy, she has now been given the all-clear.Following a consultation with Professor Campbell Roxburgh, a surgeon at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, the mum-of-one decided to opt for "amazing" procedure over conventional surgery.The robotic systems have four arms that hold a camera and the surgical tools.

A surgeon controls the robotic system from the surgeon console, which is in the operating theatre.Deborah said she is grateful for all the care she received from the NHS at the GRI, and is convinced that the robotic surgery saved her life.She said: “I cannot thank the staff at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde enough for all the help, care and treatment they provided for me.“When you are told you are diagnosed with cancer, it takes a while for this to really sink in as you never think it is going to happen to you. “I had never heard about it this type of procedure before.

An operation is a scary word in itself and I never thought anything about a robot being directed by a surgeon.“I met with Prof Roxburgh and he explained everything in detail and I was happy to go ahead with it.

The technology is amazing and I was up and walking around in a matter of days after my surgery. "I wanted to start hoovering when I got home from hospital but my daughter made sure I rested up.