Share review of Mr Drostan Cheetham

Mr Drostan Cheetham 2021-08-23 Person 5 5 0

Having been diagnosed with rectal cancer in May this year I was feeling extremely anxious and worried about my future and impact it would have on my family, but upon meeting Mr Cheetham I found him to be most reassuring and both kind and firm in his manner and approach. He was able to offer reassurance by explaining the options for treatment clearly. He made arrangements for my surgery to be scheduled within a few weeks following my diagnosis. He was patient and fully responsive to my questions as I was terrified of the idea of having a permanent stoma. He also explained the role of other members of his team (stoma care team and dedicated enhanced recovering team) whom I found to be very supportive, kind, and professional. He also clearly explained the role of his colleague in Oncology department and his reasons for referral so I would be better informed in my decision making. Mr Cheetham and his team at Watford General Hospital are focusing not only on the patient’s recovery from cancer surgery but also on the quality of life of a patient post-surgery which is commendable. Mr Cheetham could have offered me the more conventional pathway of pre-operative radiotherapy and then surgery to remove my cancer (in my particular type of cancer), but after discussion at Multidisciplinary Team Meeting (MDT) and further discussions, he carried out another endoscopic examination on me and only after confirming that it would be appropriate, though challenging to attempt the ‘straight to surgery’ option, arranged for another consultation to rediscuss my options paying particular attention to my anxiety regarding quality of life post-surgery. My final histology post surgery confirmed that after a meticulous surgery, Mr Cheetham was able to harvest 59 lymph nodes with my cancer specimen – this is in comparison to the recommended minimum of 12 lymph nodes to be harvested! I have been lucky that all these 59 lymph nodes showed no evidence of cancer. My cancer surgery was a great success, and I am waiting for further investigations to assess if I could have my ileostomy reversed soon. Both myself and my wife are extremely grateful for the excellent treatment I received. It is difficult to see how any aspect of the treatment, care, or advice I received could be further improved, because, in my experience, I had the finest care and attention I could have wished for. People like Mr Cheetham are an asset to Watford General Hospital and our NHS and I wish him all the best very best and many more years of service.