Prostate cancer appeal is launched (From Ledbury Reporter)

Prostate cancer appeal is launched

12:20pm Monday 2nd April 2012 in News

A CHARITY appeal has been launched to help fund the latest state-of-the-art robot technology for keyhole surgery on prostate cancer.

The advanced surgery uses superior 3D HD imaging and magnification to allow high precision with minimally invasive surgery, reducing complications.

The recently registered charity appeal “Robocap”, aimed at providing a ‘da Vinci’ surgical system which uses the latest state-of-the-art robotic technology for prostate cancer, was officially launched in Herefordshire at How Caple in a launch organised by fund-raiser Howard Pitts.

The initial target of £400,000 would allow delivery and installation of the unit. The full cost of the robotic system is £1.6 million.

The surgery would likely be performed at Cheltenham.

The chairman of the appeal, Les Kinmond, introduced the three consultant urologists of Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire – Graham Sole, Biral Patel and Aloysius Okeke.

Such robotic assisted surgery is the fastest growing treatment for prostate cancer, a system which could also be developed for surgical work on the kidney and bladder. Eight hundred operations are carried out annually in the 3CCN area of Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and South Worcestershire.

Ledbury’s mayor Allen Conway, who was treated for prostate cancer 10 years ago, said he would back the appeal.

However he added that it would be better for county residents if the treatment could be carried out in Hereford.

“If you live in certain parts of our county it is an extremely long way to get to Cheltenham, and I can tell you from experience that when you have cancer that is exhausting,” he said.

Coun Brian Wilcox Mayor elect for Hereford City, had already indicated his wish to make “Robocap” his official charity during his term of office.