Mr Paul Thiruchelvam 2017-02-08 Person 5 5 0

Mr Thiruchelvam is a wonderful doctor. The first time I saw him I was the last patient in the clinic, and there had been some earlier delays due to an emergency. I was worried that my appointment might be rushed. On the contrary, he gave me as much time as I needed, and took great care to explain the pluses and minuses of the possible routes to be taken. He explained the mastectomy option with DIEP flap. I knew that would be certain to remove the cancer at the first attempt, but it would involve a long and more serious operation, taking material from my tummy for the reconstruction. What I wanted was to avoid a mastectomy, although that had in fact been recommended at a joint meeting of the team. He respected that, confirmed that there was a risk that I might need another operation, and went on to work out how best to do the lumpectomy, given that I had 2 lumps, meaning a large area to be removed. He was concerned to achieve the best possible aesthetic result as well as to minimise the risk of having to have another operation. It was obvious that he was trying hard to consider every possible way of meeting my needs. I think I'm right in saying I had a Wide Local Excision with Therapeutic Mammoplasty. The WLE is the removal of the cancer. The TM remodels the breast by moving what remains, and repositioning the nipple. I have a "lollipop" scar, just under the breast (the stick) and around the repositioned nipple (the lolly!). The operation went very smoothly - a day case. I was seen by Mr Thiruchelvam before the op, when he marked me with felt pen and explained again what he was going to do. Amazingly I had no pain when I woke up, or afterwards. I did take pain killers for a day or so, as advised. The next morning I saw him at the clinic and he removed the dressings and the drain. There is some sort of glue over the wounds and dissolvable stitches. I needed no dressings at all after that. At every stage Mr Thiruchelvam has been careful to explain that as a large amount of the breast was removed, there will be a dent. I was very keen to get rid of the cancer, and if possible to retain my own breast. A dent is neither here or there to me! I am very lucky, and I was in very, very good hands. These two things have been achieved - the margins are clear and I have no lymph gland involvement. This doctor, and all the others I have come into contact with at Charing Cross have been wonderful and I am enormously grateful. Btw speciality should be Breast Surgery but that wasn't listed.