The stories from Super Surgeons

Anthea's story

In August 2022, Anthea noticed a lump on her arm. Doctors initially thought it was a bruise, but the lump didn’t go away.

Later that year, just a week after her eighteenth birthday, Anthea’s MRI scan and biopsy results revealed it was a sarcoma. The only treatment her local hospital could offer was radiotherapy alone – which was unlikely to cure her disease – or an amputation, which would derail her ambitions of becoming a midwife.

“The lump had been on my arm for a year” says Anthea. “It kept changing shape and size - it was the size of ping pong ball at one point."

"Finding out that I not only had cancer, but that I might need an amputation was really scary. I want to be a midwife and I didn’t know how I’d make that happen without my arm.” 

She was referred to The Royal Marsden, the only centre in the UK to offer a third option, called isolated limb perfusion, that could give her a chance to later have surgery that would save her arm.

Episode 1 follows Anthea and her super surgeon, Professor Andy Hayes, as he tries to remove the tumour from amongst the delicate structure of nerves and muscles in her arm. A millimetre in the wrong direction could mean Anthea loses her ability to control the function of her hand. 

“Isolated limb perfusion is a really effective chemotherapy technique that allows us to shrink tumours” says, Professor Hayes. “When the tumour is smaller, it allows us to do a smaller operation than might otherwise be necessary.”  

“The aim of Anthea’s operation is to remove the tumour in a way that preserves the three really important nerves that go into her hand. Nerves are dangerous things to operate on, and they all have their risks attached to them."

"If a nerve sustains an injury, it is very difficult to treat. They take a long time to heal and sometimes healing doesn’t happen at all.”   

“I think it will be challenging, but I think this treatment is a risk worth taking because Anthea does not want to lose a limb. There is no question she wants to keep her arm. So if she’s willing to try, I’m willing to try. I think it’s worth trying because the only alternative Anthea is facing is an amputation which will affect everything about her future and her life. I think we can and should try and avoid that.”

Watch Anthea's story in Super Surgeons 2 episode 1, now on Channel 4

Tracy's story

In 2010 Tracy was diagnosed by her local hospital with a polyp in her colon which could potentially become malignant in the future. She was told she was too young to have a permanent colostomy, so instead, she had the polyp surgically removed approximately twice a year. Then, in 2021 Tracy received the news that the polyp had become malignant, and she was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer.

Following her diagnosis and surgery to remove part of her colon at Epsom hospital, Tracy was referred to The Royal Marsden in Sutton where she began 5 rounds of radiotherapy, in conjunction with 19 months of chemotherapy, but it did not manage to keep her bowel cancer under control.

Episode 2 follows Tracy, and her surgeon Mr Shahnawaz Rasheed, as she undergoes an extensive and life changing surgery removing part of her colon, rectum, womb, and vagina.

“Throughout my treatment journey at The Royal Marsden there have been many treatment decisions made by the multi disciplinary team” says Tracy. “Mr Rasheed has always had my corner, I'll be forever grateful to him. He’s a very, very special human being."

“I am passionate about the NHS after a 47-year career as a nurse and midwife, and especially The Royal Marsden which has saved my life. I agreed to take part in the documentary partly to understand my operation and highlight the skill of the surgeons, but I also thought it may help others facing a similar operation to see you can recover from such life changing surgery”.

“Though it was major life changing surgery” says Tracy “and I will be under surveillance for a few more years, I am now cancer-free and living my best ‘second’ life to the full, thanks to The Royal Marsden."

"Mr Rasheed and his colleagues are my heroes, and I will be eternally grateful. I think it’s important to get the message across to people, that despite such major surgery you can live a normal life.”  

Watch Tracy's story in Super Surgeons 2 episode 2, now on Channel 4

Rich's story

After two other hospitals tell Rich they cannot operate on the large sarcoma tumour growing in his neck, Rich is referred to The Royal Marsden. Professor Vin Paleri and specialists from other NHS Trusts across London must come together to conduct a high-stakes surgery on Rich’s neck and carotid artery.  

“Before this surgery, everything was looking so bleak but, thanks to The Royal Marsden, I’ve been given another crack at this thing we call life.”  

Episode 2 follows Former Royal Navy Commander Rich and his surgeon, Professor Vin Paleri, as Rich undergoes his tenth cancer surgery. Rich has Epithelioid sarcoma, a rare kind of soft tissue cancer, which has returned multiple times in his neck. His most recent tumour is attached to his carotid artery. After two other hospitals tell Rich they cannot operate on it as it is too risky, Rich is referred to The Royal Marsden to be seen by Professor Vin Paleri.  

“I had never operated on a tumour this large before,” says Professor Paleri, “But, after discussing his case with heart, vascular and chest specialists from different NHS Trusts, I decided we could operate. I was conscious that, if the tumour wasn’t removed, it would continue to grow and would soon start impacting Rich’s breathing.” 

Led by Professor Paleri, Rich’s extensive operation in September 2023 involved splitting open his neck and replacing one of his carotid arteries with a synthetic one. This required specialist support from a vascular surgeon from Imperial College, and a thoracic surgeon from The Royal Brompton, where the operation took place.   

“By September, when my surgery came around, the tumour was roughly the size of a small melon and required 12 hours of surgery to remove” says Rich.

“After the surgery, I was on a feeding tube and had lost my vagus nerve, which controls voice box and swallow function. The Royal Marsden’s speech and language therapists were there straight away to offer support. They taught me new techniques for eating and how to trust my body again. Before this surgery, everything was looking so bleak but, thanks to The Royal Marsden, I’ve been given another crack at this thing we call life.”   

Watch Rich's story in Super Surgeons 2 episode 2, now on Channel 4

Lauren's story

Care co-ordinator Lauren, 31 from Norwich, first experienced cancer aged eight but didn’t know she had the disease for nearly two decades. The lump on her groin, which was thought to be benign, returned when she was 25 and was removed surgically both times at her local hospital. However, after her tissue samples were retested two years later, results revealed – thanks to advances in pathology, that she had a very rare cancer.

"My perspective changed completely. I was suddenly facing worries about the disease coming back. It was at this point I was referred to The Royal Marsden for monitoring.” 

“The lump appeared for a third time just before Christmas 2022 and my local team sent me straight to The Royal Marsden. I was told that, this time, I’d have radiotherapy to reduce the risk of the disease returning ahead of surgery.” 

Episode 3 follows Lauren, and her surgeon Mr Myles Smith, as she undergoes surgery for a third time.

“Myles talked me through the surgery multiple times" says Lauren. "I understood the risks and had time to ask everything I needed. He is really relatable and person-centred, so he’s easy to speak to.” 

“Along the way, The Royal Marsden found out my sarcoma subtype is actually a hibernoma-like myxoid liposarcoma, which is even rarer than we initially thought."

Lauren is one of around 20 people known to have this type of cancer and is the first person to be treated by The Royal Marsden with this specific disease. 

"Having sarcoma is scary as it’s such a versatile cancer and can come back anytime anywhere" explains Lauren. "However, in another breath, it’s good to understand more about my disease and how to deal with it.”    

“When I was asked to take part in the programme, I initially said no – I'm not the kind of person who enjoys being in front of the camera! However, after some thought, I decided that as I’m young with a rare cancer, if anyone else experiences something similar, I could be a guiding light at the end of the tunnel for them."

“The first few weeks after the operation were a lot. I experienced a lot of nerve pain and couldn’t walk until December without a limp. Since then, it’s like it never happened. I’ve got back to normal life and feel like me again.” says Lauren. “While I’ll have check-ups and scans locally, I’m still being kept under the care of The Royal Marsden, which I’m so glad about. The place is run so well and, as everyone being treated there is dealing with cancer, people don’t treat you differently.” 

“Cancer can be so daunting, especially I think for younger people. I want to get the message out to anyone who may have found something, to listen to your body and get anything unusual checked out as soon as possible.” 

Watch Lauren's story in Super Surgeons 2 episode 3, now on Channel 4