This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/7287683.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Pancreas cancer hope over surgery | Pancreas cancer hope over surgery |
(about 2 hours later) | |
An operation for people with advanced pancreatic cancer has been performed by UK doctors for the first time. | An operation for people with advanced pancreatic cancer has been performed by UK doctors for the first time. |
In December, a team at London's Royal Free Hospital operated on a woman using the technique, pioneered in the US. | |
It involved cutting away the tumour and portal vein - a major vessel near the pancreas - and replacing it with the jugular vein from the neck. | |
The female patient is now recovering well and experts believe the surgery could help up to 700 people a year. | The female patient is now recovering well and experts believe the surgery could help up to 700 people a year. |
This technique is exciting as it enables us to offer a whole new group of patients the opportunity for surgery Kito Fusai, surgeon | This technique is exciting as it enables us to offer a whole new group of patients the opportunity for surgery Kito Fusai, surgeon |
There is currently no treatment for pancreatic cancer that is so advanced, with most patients given just six months to live. | There is currently no treatment for pancreatic cancer that is so advanced, with most patients given just six months to live. |
The surgery also removes the portal vein because pancreatic cancer often invades that part of the abdomen as it advances. | |
Those diagnosed in the earlier stages can sometimes be treated with chemotherapy or surgery, but of the 7,400 people who get it each year just 3% are alive five years later. | Those diagnosed in the earlier stages can sometimes be treated with chemotherapy or surgery, but of the 7,400 people who get it each year just 3% are alive five years later. |
The development comes after it was announced film star Patrick Swayze is battling the disease. | The development comes after it was announced film star Patrick Swayze is battling the disease. |
Exciting | Exciting |
Surgeon Kito Fusai, who performed the first procedure with his colleague Dinesh Sharma, said the technique was exciting. | Surgeon Kito Fusai, who performed the first procedure with his colleague Dinesh Sharma, said the technique was exciting. |
"If discovered early, before it has spread to other major organs such as the liver or lungs, the cancer may be treatable. | "If discovered early, before it has spread to other major organs such as the liver or lungs, the cancer may be treatable. |
"However, currently only a small proportion of patients - around 10% - are suitable for surgery. | "However, currently only a small proportion of patients - around 10% - are suitable for surgery. |
"The only treatment for the vast majority of patients is chemotherapy or palliative treatment. | "The only treatment for the vast majority of patients is chemotherapy or palliative treatment. |
"This technique is exciting as it enables us to offer a whole new group of patients the opportunity for surgery. | "This technique is exciting as it enables us to offer a whole new group of patients the opportunity for surgery. |
"We expect it will double the number of patients each year - potentially saving many hundreds more lives." | "We expect it will double the number of patients each year - potentially saving many hundreds more lives." |
And he added: "Without this surgery the patient would undoubtedly have died, probably within six months or a year's time." | And he added: "Without this surgery the patient would undoubtedly have died, probably within six months or a year's time." |
The breakthrough in the UK comes after successful operations were carried out in the US. | The breakthrough in the UK comes after successful operations were carried out in the US. |
A team at the MD Anderson Cancer Centre in Houston, Texas, has operated on 55 patients, with recent data showing encouraging survival rates. | |
Maggie Blanks, of the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund, said: "When tumours are close to the portal vein it precludes surgery so anything that overcomes that is a major step. | Maggie Blanks, of the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund, said: "When tumours are close to the portal vein it precludes surgery so anything that overcomes that is a major step. |
"But it is very early stages and this does not sound like it would necessarily help when the cancer has spread beyond the pancreas." | "But it is very early stages and this does not sound like it would necessarily help when the cancer has spread beyond the pancreas." |
Previous version
1
Next version