‘If I hadn’t sought help, my tumour could have grown and spread’
A KIDNEY cancer survivor has attributed his successful treatment and recovery to the expertise and dedication of his Derby surgeon.
It comes on the day that the world marks World Kidney Cancer Day.
Architect Steve West recalled the moment he realised something was seriously wrong: “One Saturday morning, I woke up and started to pass blood. I then started haemorrhaging blood, and I knew I had to get to A&E immediately.
“Within five hours, I was diagnosed with a malignant tumour. It was a massive shock, but the speed of the NHS was astonishing.”
Steve and his wife began researching potential surgeons. Their choice, Sadmeet Singh, stood out due to his credentials and experience in both robotic and keyhole surgery.
Steve said: “Mr Singh’s details on the Nuffield website sounded great. He demonstrated a real understanding and experience with both robotic and keyhole surgery, which appealed to us.”
Initially, Mr Singh was unsure whether keyhole surgery would be feasible. This uncertainty continued up to the day of the operation, with contingency plans in place for a more invasive procedure if necessary.
Another surgeon had prepared Steve for the worst, including the potential loss of his spleen.
Despite these possibilities, Mr Singh successfully removed the tumour using keyhole surgery.
Steve said: “Mr Singh got it out by keyhole and said it all came out. He even checked all my lymph nodes while he was in there. He was amazing, but he did say, ‘Please don’t put me through that again.’
“When I mentioned Mr Singh to people, even on the day of the operation, my anaesthetist said, ‘I would trust Mr Singh with my life and my children’s lives.’ He’s the best, and everyone at Nuffield said I had the best.”
Mr Singh, consultant urological surgeon at Royal Derby Hospital, who also works privately, emphasised the importance of addressing urinary issues promptly.
He said: “Urinary problems can be a sign of serious underlying conditions. It’s crucial to discuss any concerns with your doctor to ensure early diagnosis and treatment.”
Reflecting on his journey, Mr West encouraged others to seek medical help without delay. He said: “If anything is niggling, any part of your body feels off, go to the doctor. It saves lives. I consider myself really lucky that I had symptoms that prompted me to seek help. If I hadn’t, the tumour could have grown and spread.”
The theme of World Kidney Cancer Day this year is “listening”.
There are many types of kidney cancer. The most common is renal cell carcinoma, which accounts for 90 percent of cases. Renal cell carcinoma includes many subtypes including the most common, clear cell renal cell carcinoma, and various other rarer subtypes.
There are two main types of surgery for kidney cancer:
Removing a kidney (nephrectomy).
Removing the cancer but leaving as much of the kidney as possible (partial nephrectomy).
You may also need to have some lymph nodes, which are part of the body’s drainage system, removed.
If you’re not well enough to have surgery, you may be offered a treatment called arterial embolism to block the blood supply instead.