Pioneering work means cancer tests can go ahead

A WORLD-FIRST procedure developed at a hospital in Swansea is allowing doctors to resume the fight against skin cancer during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.

Biopsies done under general anaesthetic to detect whether melanoma, a type of skin cancer, had spread were cancelled due to the risk posed by coronavirus with this type of procedure.

But a team of plastic surgeons and anaesthetists at Morriston Hospital have now designed a way for what are called sentinel lymph node biopsies to take place while the patient is awake, removing the need for a general anaesthetic

The pioneering discovery will allow doctors to continue with their work detecting skin cancer in the early stages of spreading to other parts of the body, potentially saving lives.

Consultant plastic surgeon Jonathan Cubitt, who is part of the team, said: “If it hadn’t been for Covid we would have carried on using general anaesthetic, but because of the restrictions we have been forced to think outside the box.

“This technique isn’t done anywhere else in the world. We are lucky we have the expertise with our anaesthetists.

“Even after Covid-19, I don’t think we will go back to just using general anaesthetic. We would give the patient the option, but with the knowledge that it’s always safer to avoid general anaesthetic.

“We’ve done nine to date and by the end of the week we should have done the tenth. We will be publishing on this so we can share it with our colleagues around the UK.”

One of the first patients to benefit from the new procedure is 37-yearold Stephen Pearce from Llanelli, who developed skin cancer on his arm.

Mr Pearce, who is currently awaiting his biopsy results, said: “I didn’t feel anything during the procedure. It was much better than having a general anaesthetic, it’s safer and the recovery was quicker without the grogginess from a general anaesthetic. The feeling came back within an hour and by the time I was home I had regained control of my arm.”

Sancta Maria Hospital in Swansea has also provided a Covid-clean operating site where the melanoma surgery can be carried out.