A 92-year-old great-grandmother who was told her cancer was inoperable has become the first person in the UK to receive a "groundbreaking" treatment that has reduced the size of her tumour by around 80%.
Brenda Iveson, from Harrogate, was diagnosed with a 2.3-inch (6cm) tumour on her liver, but due to its location and her poor health, doctors said surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy were "not advisable".
However, specialists at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust offered her a "minimally invasive procedure" using robotic electrochemotherapy.
Mrs Iveson said: "I was told there was nothing that could be done. I'm so glad I decided to have the operation; it was painless and non-disabling, and I feel really good.".
This technique combines low-dose chemotherapy with targeted electrical impulses to kill cancer cells.
In a first in the UK, doctors used a robotic needle guidance system to position electrodes around the tumour.
«"There are no other options"»
A spokesman for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said the procedure, carried out under general anaesthetic, does not involve the use of heat, meaning it "can be used safely near vital structures such as blood vessels and bile ducts".
Professor Jie Ming Wah, from the interventional oncology program at the institution, said the approach offers an option that did not previously exist.
«"The introduction of a robotic navigation system improves accuracy and opens up new possibilities, especially for patients with tumors located in hard-to-reach areas or for whom other treatment methods are not suitable," she said.
The organisation said it was currently the only hospital in the UK providing liver electrochemotherapy as part of a European research project studying its safety, effectiveness and impact on survival and quality of life.
Mrs Iveson said she hoped her treatment would help others.
«"Research can provide real results when there are no other options," she said.
«"If it helps me and future patients, it's worth it.".
«"It appears to be a very effective treatment, particularly useful for elderly and frail patients.".
The hospital reported that examination results show that the tumor has stabilized, and the patient continues to be monitored by specialists.
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Leeds Hospital Trust