Published on: 3 March 2020

A year on from bowel cancer surgery at South Tyneside District Hospital, a South Shields woman has said a heartfelt thank you to the team who saved her life and is urging everyone to take up invitations for health screening.

Life for Gill Smith is now largely back to normal following an eight-and-a-half hour operation at the beginning of 2019.

She never expected to be a patient at the same hospital where she has worked for 37 years when she attended for routine bowel cancer screening in November 2018.

“They saw something that didn’t look right and took biopsies straightaway,” she said. “After a week, I went back and saw a nurse from the bowel scope screening programme who confirmed that the results were positive for cancer and she immediately called the colorectal specialist nurses who came to see me and offer support.

“Everything was so well organised and quick. I was given the diagnosis on a Tuesday and by the Friday morning of the same week I had had a colonoscopy, CT scan and MRI scan so they had all the information they needed to discuss my case in a multi-disciplinary team meeting the following Tuesday and decide on my treatment.”

The operation in January 2019, conducted by South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust’s colorectal cancer lead, Mr Arun Krishna, was followed by a nine-day stay in the Surgical Centre at South Tyneside District Hospital.  

Gill, who is a clinical engineering systems administrator, said: “Although I work at the hospital, I don’t see what happens on the wards on a daily basis, however, as a patient, I was so impressed with the care I received. Everyone was so friendly, caring and helpful and the room was spotless.”

Following her recuperation, she was able to start a phased return to work at the end of April 2019. She did not require chemotherapy or radiotherapy but was told she would be monitored for five years, after which she is hopeful she will be given the all-clear.  

She added: “It’s all been quite surreal. I’d had no symptoms so I had no reason to be worried when I went for the screening, which meant it came as a real shock when I was told I had cancer. I count myself really lucky and I would say to anyone invited for screening, whether it’s for bowel cancer, breast cancer or cervical cancer, to go along because it could save your life.

“I want to express my sincere thanks for the care I have received and which is still continuing through regular check-ups. Very special thanks have to go to Mr Krishna and his team who, from the initial diagnosis, gave me the confidence and support to face what was to come. I always felt informed and when Mr Krishna told me what he was planning to do, I never doubted for one moment that what he was telling me was the right course of treatment.

“Everyone else was marvellous, too - from the staff in Endoscopy who looked after me during the bowel scope procedure and the colonoscopy; those in Radiology who carried out the scans, and the theatre and Surgical Centre staff who took such good care of me, including the nurse who walked to theatre with me and gave me reassurance when I most needed it. The colorectal nurse specialists deserve a particular mention for their professionalism and support, coupled with their humour and positivity, over the past year which made a huge difference to how I came to terms with the outcome of my surgery. My community nurse gave me so much advice and support, too.

Gill also took part in a clinical trial, Prepare ABC, which she credits with aiding her recovery. Its aim is to see if exercise training prior to bowel cancer surgery can improve recovery afterwards. The physiotherapists at South Tyneside District Hospital encouraged her to exercise and plotted her progress in the months following her operation.

Mr Krishna said: “Effectively treating and caring for someone with bowel cancer requires a multi-disciplinary approach and I am very proud of the whole team. Everyone has a valuable part to play and is willing to go the extra mile to ensure that our patients receive the individual care and attention which they deserve.”          

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust Chief Executive Ken Bremner said: “It’s always touching when a patient, such as Gill, takes the time to say a personal thank-you to our healthcare staff. I’d like to pay my own tribute to Arun and his team for their dedication to providing care of the highest quality for every single patient.”

A year on from bowel cancer surgery at South Tyneside District Hospital, a South Shields woman has said a heartfelt thank you to the team who saved her life and is urging everyone to take up invitations for health screening.

Life for Gill Smith is now largely back to normal following an eight-and-a-half hour operation at the beginning of 2019.

She never expected to be a patient at the same hospital where she has worked for 37 years when she attended for routine bowel cancer screening in November 2018.

“They saw something that didn’t look right and took biopsies straightaway,” she said. “After a week, I went back and saw a nurse from the bowel scope screening programme who confirmed that the results were positive for cancer and she immediately called the colorectal specialist nurses who came to see me and offer support.

“Everything was so well organised and quick. I was given the diagnosis on a Tuesday and by the Friday morning of the same week I had had a colonoscopy, CT scan and MRI scan so they had all the information they needed to discuss my case in a multi-disciplinary team meeting the following Tuesday and decide on my treatment.”

The operation in January 2019, conducted by South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust’s colorectal cancer lead, Mr Arun Krishna, was followed by a nine-day stay in the Surgical Centre at South Tyneside District Hospital.  

Gill, who is a clinical engineering systems administrator, said: “Although I work at the hospital, I don’t see what happens on the wards on a daily basis, however, as a patient, I was so impressed with the care I received. Everyone was so friendly, caring and helpful and the room was spotless.”

Following her recuperation, she was able to start a phased return to work at the end of April 2019. She did not require chemotherapy or radiotherapy but was told she would be monitored for five years, after which she is hopeful she will be given the all-clear.  

She added: “It’s all been quite surreal. I’d had no symptoms so I had no reason to be worried when I went for the screening, which meant it came as a real shock when I was told I had cancer. I count myself really lucky and I would say to anyone invited for screening, whether it’s for bowel cancer, breast cancer or cervical cancer, to go along because it could save your life.

“I want to express my sincere thanks for the care I have received and which is still continuing through regular check-ups. Very special thanks have to go to Mr Krishna and his team who, from the initial diagnosis, gave me the confidence and support to face what was to come. I always felt informed and when Mr Krishna told me what he was planning to do, I never doubted for one moment that what he was telling me was the right course of treatment.

“Everyone else was marvellous, too - from the staff in Endoscopy who looked after me during the bowel scope procedure and the colonoscopy; those in Radiology who carried out the scans, and the theatre and Surgical Centre staff who took such good care of me, including the nurse who walked to theatre with me and gave me reassurance when I most needed it. The colorectal nurse specialists deserve a particular mention for their professionalism and support, coupled with their humour and positivity, over the past year which made a huge difference to how I came to terms with the outcome of my surgery. My community nurse gave me so much advice and support, too.”

Gill also took part in a clinical trial, Prepare ABC, which she credits with aiding her recovery. Its aim is to see if exercise training prior to bowel cancer surgery can improve recovery afterwards. The physiotherapists at South Tyneside District Hospital encouraged her to exercise and plotted her progress in the months following her operation.

Mr Krishna said: “Effectively treating and caring for someone with bowel cancer requires a multi-disciplinary approach and I am very proud of the whole team. Everyone has a valuable part to play and is willing to go the extra mile to ensure that our patients receive the individual care and attention which they deserve.”          

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust Chief Executive Ken Bremner said: “It’s always touching when a patient, such as Gill, takes the time to say a personal thank-you to our healthcare staff. I’d like to pay my own tribute to Arun and his team for their dedication to providing care of the highest quality for every single patient.”