Dr Shanmugasundaram Ramkumar

Written by a patient at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

I was referred to Dr. Ramkumar at Southampton General Hospital eighteen months ago in November 2016 hoping that something could be done to treat a malignant lymph node which had grown too large to treat by any method available in Britain. This tumour was a secondary from colorectal cancer first treated in 2012 by surgery and chemotherapy. The situation at the time until the moment the first appointment with Dr. Ramkumar took place was that only palliative care could have been given in Britain. As soon as Dr. Ramkumar saw an image of the tumour on a CT scan, he wasted no time in getting a copy of it on to a disc to be sent abroad to Prague with a report. Not even a single day was lost, which was a marked contrast to the many weeks of waiting for each stage of a process leading to a diagnosis, which is experienced regularly by most people with the NHS. Dr. Ramkumar has very close liaisons with doctors at the highly specialised clinic in Prague, which is able to offer the latest proton pencil beam therapy for suitable patients. It is not surprising that he is associated with this particular clinic in Prague, because it is outstanding in every respect, which the reader can see for himself when looking at my personal report. Before leaving this article, I would like to say how grateful my wife and I are for the referral to Prague, which was done very efficiently and without delay in a kind and honest way, in which expectations of success were tempered with realism. In short he has not only been instrumental in saving my life, but also the quality of it has been preserved. This doctor certainly thinks outside the box. In the summer of 2012 I was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, which was treated surgically and with chemotherapy. Apparently, out of fourteen lymph nodes removed just one was suspect and had to be reviewed at intervals. In the fourth year it grew so rapidly, it reached the size of a small orange anterior to two of the lumbar vertebrae. This caused pain for several months gradually increasing in intensity, so that analgesics had to be taken four-hourly day and night as well as Tramadol to help with sleeping later in 2016. After doing my own research online to see if any treatment was possible for this tumour, it transpired that only palliative care was available in Britain. As a result of my efforts, I found out that proton beam therapy was a possibility. I was eventually referred to Dr. Ramkumar at Southampton General Hospital where he has been a Consultant Oncologist since 2009, and he has a special interest in this type of treatment. This proved to be extremely fortunate, because by then I could eat very little and was losing weight so rapidly that it would probably have been impossible to last many more weeks or months at best, not to mention the poor quality of life in the meantime. As the reader has been able to see in another article written by me, Dr. Ramkumar took the bull by the horns and referred me immediately to a clinic in Prague for proton beam therapy. There I was re-assessed and treatment started in the same week. Nothing was too much trouble for people working there in all the different disciplines. One is met at the airport and taken to the clinic where all necessary pre-assessments are done immediately before treatment starts as an outpatient. Everyone spoke English and knew exactly what needed to be done at any time. In my case treatment involved twenty-four visits over five weeks for just an hour or so each morning, leaving the rest of the day to explore Prague at leisure, which is a beautiful city. Accommodation was arranged at a hotel by Katerina Orltova (Chief Treatment Coordinator), a wonderful person who still keeps in touch and for whom nothing is too much trouble, always prepared to go the extra mile. No British patient needs to have any concerns about seeking treatment in Prague, where the language barrier simply does not exist, and where every member of staff attends to every detail. Since taking my leave of Prague in January 2017, three CT scans have shown that the "all clear" can be given. At the time of writing, no published data for five-year results are available yet. However, when attending a reunion of patients in London who had been treated at Prague, there were many fit and well people present who had already had their lives extended by several years, so there is plenty of anecdotal evidence of success. Many people have asked me if this treatment is available under the NHS. At the moment the answer would be only in exceptional cases, so most patients pay for treatment. When people say "that is expensive", I reply to those who change cars regularly: "What is more important to you? A new car or your life." New clinics are slowly becoming available in Britain at the moment, but only time will tell how available they will be for people seeking NHS treatment. I am trying to promote this treatment by the distribution of booklets on the subject to health professionals and other interested people. Also I hope that more doctors whether in general practice or the hospital service will alert patients to this additional method of treatment, which can be a life saver as already proved.

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Written by a patient at Spire Southampton Hospital

Dr Ramkumar treated me for tonsil cancer after my diagnosis in Sept 2013. I have just had my 5 year all clear which is all down to Dr Ramkumar's skill, compassion and kindness. He is not just an extraordinary clinician but he helped me, my family and all those who supported me, cope and remain positive through out. He was always on hand whenever we needed him and his diligence and thoroughness was a constant reassurance for us. His manner is kind and unswerving. He did not hesitate to pick me up by the boot straps when I needed it and bolstered my family when they needed it. I cannot thank him enough for what he has given to me and my family - I have such a wonderful life with so many things that I now do and look forward to. He is an extraordinary person.

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Written by a carer at Spire Southampton Hospital

Dr Ramkumar did an incredible thing for our family. He saved my Mum's life and helped all of us through a very difficult time. This wasn't solely through his abilities but how personable he was. His confidence and his kind demeanour made us all feel at ease and reassured. He kept everyone positive and focused on what was a very trying time. He was always realistic and upfront with all information. I couldn't recommend him enough.

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Written by a patient at Spire Southampton Hospital

I have been a patient of Dr Ramkumar from Feb 2012 to the present day. I presented with inoperable head and neck cancers. Dr Ramkumar has taken great care of me and has a wonderful, kind manner, he explains everything in a way I understand. I have always had great confidence in Dr Ramkumar, trusting he is doing the very best he can for me. Dr Ramkumar has supported me throughout my cancer experience, making it for me, a very positive experience. I will be forever grateful to Dr Ramkumar for giving me time to see my children grow into beautiful, amazing adults, to celebrate my 30th wedding anniversary and best of all a future. I cannot recommend Dr Ramkumar highly enough.

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