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Nick Lees, a 47-year-old from Godalming, Surrey, became the first patient in the UK to undergo robotic microsurgery for cancer treatment at the Royal Marsden Hospital. Initially dismissing a mark on his chest as a harmless blemish from his golf bag, he sought medical advice after media coverage of King Charles’ cancer diagnosis prompted him to act. He was diagnosed with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP), a rare soft tissue sarcoma, and required urgent surgery to remove the tumour.
To reconstruct the damaged tissue and blood vessels after the tumour removal, surgeons used the Symani Surgical System, the first robotic-assisted microsurgery system in the UK, funded by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. This innovative technology, controlled remotely by surgeons using robotic arms, enables precise reconnection of delicate blood vessels. Surgeon Aadil Khan explained that the system mimics natural hand movements at a microscopic level, improving surgical accuracy and recovery outcomes.
Experts at The Royal Marsden Hospital hailed the surgery as a success, with Mr. Lees returning to work just weeks after the procedure. This pioneering use of robotic microsurgery marks a significant advancement in cancer treatment and reconstructive surgery, offering new possibilities for patients needing complex tissue reconstruction.
