Mr Aali Sheen 2017-10-20 Person 5 5 0

I was scheduled to have a routine keyhole procedure for gall bladder removal. I’d been referred to Professor Aali Sheen and we had a date set for March 2017. As part of the pre-operative procedures, the Professor asked for a second CT scan as there was something he needed to clarify from the initial one. A week before the operation, Professor Sheen had me in to tell me that he was very concerned that my gall bladder was growing aggressively back into my liver and that there was a very strong chance it was cancer. He’d clearly done a lot of preparatory work in the background because he explained that he’d now be doing an open wound liver re-section and had therefore moved some other operations around so that he could spend the afternoon of the original scheduled date operating on me. He’d also arranged for another surgeon to assist with the operation. The Professor pointed out that the operation would be big and complex and that he wasn’t certain whether he’d be able to actually remove the tumour safely, in which case I’d be looking at chemotherapy. Clearly this was upsetting news, and although I knew I was in good hands I went away from that meeting with a heavy heart. A week later, on the day of the operation, I met with Professor Sheen and Doctor Paul Foster who was the anaesthetist. When I asked the Professor what he thought the chances were of his being able to remove the growth he was frank enough to say that it was 50/50. After an afternoon of surgery, I remember waking up in the recovery room with a host of cannulas and drains sticking in to me/coming out of me. I was groggy but a short while later a smiling Professor Sheen came along and told me that he’d removed the growth. Even now I can’t articulate adequately the relief, elation and outpouring of gratitude to Professor Sheen that I felt. That moment will stay with me for a very long time. I was in hospital for a further week, and on one of his visits the Professor told me that when he had the tumour in his hand it had looked sinister. Two weeks later I was called back for the histology results. It turns out I’m a very lucky man. Professor Sheen said that if there were 100 cases like mine, 90 would be malignant and 10 would be benign. I was in the very lucky 10%. I can’t even begin to find the words to thank Professor Sheen, Doctor Foster, the other nursing staff and physiotherapists at The Alexandra Hospital. For the operation to be successful it needed surgical skills of the very highest order and the treatment I got afterwards was second to none. My thanks also go the consultant Mr Christopher Smart who made the original referral to the Professor. I shall forever be indebted to Professor Aali Sheen and the team for their skill, compassion and care throughout the whole journey. A massive and heartfelt thank you goes out to them all.