The big picture: Belinda Perkins, 58, who works at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT), chose robotic surgery to treat her bowel cancer. "I was told robotic surgery was not as invasive and is at the forefront of treatments available. I felt lucky I had this option," she says.
Her story: Despite working in healthcare, Perkins initially dismissed her symptoms. "I didn't think my symptoms were cancer. I assumed it was an inflammatory condition. I'm not overweight, I don't smoke or drink, I exercise regularly and eat a relatively healthy diet," she says.
Early detection: "I'd encourage anyone who has a change in their bowel habits not to dismiss it and to get checked. Nurses can be the worst for ignoring or dismissing symptoms," Perkins adds.
A major milestone for robotic surgery: Belinda was the 2,000th patient to undergo robotic surgery at Ipswich and Colchester hospitals. The trust has invested more than £10m in four Da Vinci robots across its hospitals.
How it works:
Surgeons control the robot while sitting at a separate console
The operating part connects to patients through small keyholes
The robotic arms remain under full surgeon control throughout
What they're saying: "We know that patients have better outcomes through robotic surgery. It's more precise and means it's less invasive for patients so they heal quicker," says Subash Vasudevan, general and colorectal surgeon at ESNEFT and chair of the robotic surgery steering group.
What's next: The Trust is expanding its robotic surgery programme, with the technology now being used in the new elective orthopaedic centre at Colchester Hospital for partial and full knee replacements.
The bottom line: The transformative robotic surgery programme at ESNEFT has now trained more than 50 surgeons through its Iceni Centre at Colchester Hospital, with visitors from across the UK and Europe.
