Mr Paul Thiruchelvam

Written by a NHS patient at Charing Cross Hospital

Mr T and his whole team including all anaesthetists, nurses and radiographers were brilliant throughout my diagnosis and treatment.

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Written by a private patient at King Edward VII Hospital

I have recently been through breast cancer and was cared for by Mr Thirulchelvam and his team at King Edward VII Hospital. Mr Thiruchelvam was always calm and focussed, and despite being someone with many responsibilities, always made me feel the centre of attention and his primary concern when I was in his care. I had lumpectomy and LICAP surgery and am very pleased with the result of my cancer-free, reconstructed breast. The same can be said of the excellent team he leads. Each of them are empathetic, extremely competent professionals that made my journey through breast cancer surgery a reassuring and, given the circumstances, positive experience. They were kind and patient at every stage. And always happy to answer my questions and take the time to explain what was going on during each part of my healing journey. As a result, I felt very safe and cared for during an uncertain, emotional and stressful time. Special thanks to: Michelle, Mr Thiruchelvam's PA who is very kind and always responded to any question I had, no matter how small. She was super organised, prompt and efficient in planning all the very many moving parts of the process. Dr Matt Brown, whose calm and reassuring guidance on managing pain and the post surgery was invaluable. He also provided great tips to manage both stress and the physical effects of surgery. Amelia Cook and Helen Froid, the breast care nurses at King Edwards VII provided lots of care and guidance at each stage of healing process. They checked in with me post surgery and provided useful advice when I needed it and suggestions to support the healing process. And, the anesthesiologists, nurses and support staff at King Edward VII whose pre and post surgical care was excellent. Finally, words cannot really express how fortunate I feel to have been in the care of Mr Thiruchelvam and his team. All I can say is a heartfelt thank you for the skill, care and kindness to all who’ve contributed to making a challenging time easier and less stressful than it might have been. Thank you all!

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Written by a NHS patient at Charing Cross Hospital

DR. OF THE DECADE  Kind, compassionate, caring, and meticulous are just a few words that come to mind when I think of Dr Paul Thiruchelvam.  During what I can only describe as one of the scariest times in any person's life, being diagnosed with the BIG C! Especially at a young age, has had its challenges. It’s been over a 7-month journey within the NHS, with a diagnosis that kept changing. However, Paul was able to provide calm amongst the chaos and continues to be a beacon of light during stormy seas, leaving me feeling confident in his care. Paul has been very proactive in his approach to my treatment and has gone above and beyond. Also, respecting MY CHOICES in terms of alternative therapies. I can’t help but feel truly grateful and blessed to have been placed over into his capable and dedicated hands and I genuinely believe the NHS and Charing Cross specifically, would be better off with more people like Paul. In terms of surgical procedures, the diagnosis went from a lumpectomy outcome to receiving a right Mastectomy and immediate reconstruction, along with a sentinel node biopsy. This was due to the calcification and breast tissue changing.  I was discharged the following day with a drain along with antibiotics and was in no pain. Minimal scarring under the right breast and axilla, despite significant time in surgery and skilled scraping. Paul and his surgical team were phenomenal. Unfortunately, the results of the sentinel node biopsy returned with disappointing news. One of the three lymph nodes had cancerous cells, and a follow-up surgery was scheduled a month later to do a full axillary clearance. I was also eligible to receive a profound and wonderful new surgical procedure to reduce risks related to Lymphoedema.  To my understanding, Lymphatic reconstruction involves highly technical procedures whereby microsurgery allows for better drainage within the lymphatic system by closing the removed lymph nodes into the veins. Known as S-LYMPHA (Simplified) Lymphatic Microsurgical Preventing Healing Approach. Dr Thiruchelvam was accompanied by a diligent team of surgeons.  The final Histopathology report showed no further disease in the lymphatic system. Although LYMPHA and S-LYMPHA is a relatively new procedures, with ongoing studies, I certainly feel it’s added value to my life, albeit there are some hiccups post-surgery in terms of a seroma and irritation around the axilla. Paul has continued to provide the best possible care and monitors my progress. My mobility and sensation have improved within the right arm post-surgery. Aesthetically, the scar is broader under the axilla due to the second procedure. I’m still adjusting to my new breast/body and the blue and green dye injected into my right arm to identify ARM lymphatics. This will fade over 6 months to a year. I feel the medical industry and treatments therein are constantly evolving, and this new technique will undoubtedly benefit future patients and the medical sector holistically. Currently over three months post Mastectomy and one-month post-S-LYMPHA. I’m excited about the prospects and look forward to seeing what the future holds and would highly recommend Dr Paul Thiruchelvam to any and everyone. 

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Written by a private patient at King Edward VII Hospital

It was pure chance that I ended up in the expert care of Paul Thiruchelvam. Things happened fast. From initially complaining about an achy breast to having a mammogram, ultrasound and then biopsy for a lump they had identified in my other breast, took about a week. It was before Christmas, Covid was rampant, the Lister couldn’t see me and I ended up at HCA Chiswick Medical Centre. The radiologist, Neil Upadhyay put me in touch with Paul and his wonderful PA Michelle managed to fit me in. When I got my diagnosis, friends and family immediately wanted to know who my consultant was and to make sure I was in the best possible hands. I can say for certain that I was. I got my diagnosis on 23rd December. We were told that nothing would happen until the New Year as HCA were closed until 4th January and this felt very scary. However, Michelle and Paul kept things moving all through this period, updating me on the type of cancer, arranging CT and PET scans for 30th December and calling me on New Year’s Eve to say that the cancer had not spread. I was treated incredibly quickly. The lumpectomy took place exactly a month after I was first diagnosed and LICAP reconstruction three weeks later. Radiotherapy followed six weeks after that. Paul is extremely collaborative, has a brilliant bedside manner and makes you feel that you are his absolute priority. He is supported by a pain specialist, Matthew Brown, oncologist Suzy Cleator and two very caring cancer nurses, Amelia and Helen who were always at the end of the phone. I felt so calm in his care, to the point that I felt utterly lost when I was discharged and no longer seeing him weekly or fortnightly. With my surgery, he explained all my options, gave us a few days to reflect on them and then invited us back to agree a plan of action. My initial instinct was just to get the tumour out and not care about the aesthetics of my breast. I am so glad I had my husband there to make me realise that I would care deeply about being misshapen and lopsided in the long run. And I am so grateful that Paul never pressurised us into a quick decision. I had a lumpectomy followed by LICAP flap reconstruction three weeks later. My lost breast tissue was replaced with skin and fat from the side of my chest wall. I found the prospect of this pretty incredible as I am pretty lean but this did not deter Paul. He must have marked me up with pen at least four times. The final job is incredibly neat, with a single horizontal scar from both lumpectomy and reconstruction extending around my rib cage to my back. He is definitely a UK leader in the field of LICAP flap breast reconstruction and lectures medical students at Imperial College on this and other subjects. Paul is phenomenally dedicated. I stayed over at King Edward VII after my reconstruction and he was there the following morning (a Sunday) at 7am to see his patients. I also needed emergency surgery for a haematoma after my lumpectomy. Michelle sent me straight to A&E at Charing Cross where he does his NHS work. Paul came and saw me immediately and swung into action, putting a team together within minutes to operate on me. When I came round towards midnight, he was still there in his hospital scrubs to check I was OK. His registrar was texting him at 6am with an update on my progress. As others have written on here, I feel so incredibly lucky to have been treated by Paul and to know that I will remain in his care for the next five years. Thank you for everything.

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Written by a NHS patient at Charing Cross Hospital

The care I had from doctor Paul was amazing, words cannot describe how comfortable and relaxed he made me feel throughout the treatments. I could never thank him and his team enough for what they have done for m. He made my journey with cancer much easier than i thought it would be and that is due to his caring and loving persona. He walked in through and explained every single treatment or procedure that he and his team were going to do. I would also like to thank his team also Orla and Arlene, they supported me and were there for me every step of the way whenever i had any queries. Once again, thank you Dr.Paul I will never forget this experience although difficult you have made it easier for me.

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