• 6/9/2004
  • Rebecca Camber
  • Manchester News (UK)

A cancer patient who endured a 12-hour operation to remove a tumour has made sure her fellow patients do not have to go through the same ordeal. Sue Slater, 54, raised thousands of pounds to supply Christie Hospital with one of the most advanced laser surgery instruments available on the market. The transoral laser surgery equipment allows surgeons to remove throat and mouth tumours in under four hours. Sue had the surgery three years ago to remove a tumour on her tongue. Along with her husband Stuart, she formed a local group, the Wilmslow Fundraisers for Christies, selling toys, jams and chutneys all year to raise the £10,500 needed to buy the life-saving equipment.
The sophisticated piece of kit is the only one in the North to allow surgeons to remove mouth and throat tumours without having to cut the skin or resort to rebuilding the face.

The gadget is equipped with a microscope to give surgeons the best view when they look for the tumour through the mouth. The equipment also gives patients a much higher chance of making a full recovery and they won’t have to bear the same scars as Sue has across her neck. Stuart, who is chairman of the group, said: “Sue went through major surgery. It was very tough. Having had personal experience of this kind of cancer, we are delighted to see this new equipment in use and hope it will provide benefits for many years to come.”

The hospital has about 600 new cases of neck and throat cancer a year, but doctors say their new equipment will slash their waiting lists. Consultant head and neck surgeon Jarrod Homer said: “We are extremely grateful to the Wilmslow Group for raising the funds to purchase this equipment which has revolutionised the treatment for this type of cancer and totally changed the outlook for patients. “We are now able to offer a gold standard service, reducing the length of time patients have to stay in hospital, reducing suffering and complications and boosting their chances of survival.