FUNDRAISING FOR A CURE
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The career of inspirational and internationally-renowned surgeon and PLANETS founder Neil Pearce was celebrated by colleagues, patients and charity supporters at an event this week (Tuesday, 25 April).
Neil, 56, who revolutionised liver surgery and saved the lives of thousands of patients, is retiring from his role as associate medical director for patient safety at University Hospital Southampton.
This is a role he took on after his surgical career was tragically cut short when he was diagnosed with a progressive form of multiple sclerosis.
As a consultant surgeon specialising in pancreatic, liver and neuroendocrine tumours (NETs), he established a world-leading centre in Southampton which he led from 2005 to 2013 before he was forced to stop operating.
During this time he performed more than 1,000 major cancer operations, introducing new techniques and procedures along the way and developing a reputation for taking on cases others had determined were inoperable – saving the lives of many patients who otherwise had exhausted their options.
He pioneered keyhole surgery for liver cancer in the UK and has trained surgeons from almost every unit in the UK, as well as many abroad, and championed the multi-team approach to tackling advanced cancer using all the different methods of treatment available.
He also transformed the treatment of NETs in Southampton and across the country with the creation of a team of dedicated professionals covering all the specialist requirements of the management of NET patients.
NETs are rare types of cancer which are usually found in the pancreas, bowel or lungs but can also develop in other parts of the body and arise from cells which form a link between the nervous system and the glands which produce hormones.
If detected early they can often be cured with surgery but, at present, most are diagnosed at a later stage when they have already spread to other parts of the body.
Through Neil’s interventions as a locum consultant in 2005 when he questioned why surgery was not being performed on this group of patients, he fundamentally changed the treatment protocol and, as a result, many patients who previously would have lived for two or three years are now living well past expectations, with a very good quality of life.
Alongside his clinical practice, Neil saw the need for a charity to offer support for patients on these complex journeys and help provide innovative cancer treatments many years sooner than the existing NHS mechanisms could allow.
This led to the creation of PLANETS Cancer Charity, which he founded in 2011 alongside consultant interventional radiologist Dr Brian Stedman and neuroendocrine tumour patient Layla Stephen, with fellow patient Jo Green joining the trio shortly after its formation.
What initially started as a one-off campaign to raise £70,000 for a new ultrasound scanner has ended up 12 years later having raised more than £2 million and been behind revolutionary developments such as purchasing the UK’s first mobile electron beam radiotherapy machine – Mobetron – which is able to deliver radiotherapy to advanced cancers during surgery.
He also leaves a legacy of so often achieving the impossible for his patients, such as Susan Rostron, 69, from Dorset, who had been told an 11lb cancerous growth on her pancreas was inoperable back in 2011.
An email she sent to the NET tissue bank Neil had set up in Southampton asking if they would like her tumour for research purposes after she died made its way to him. He then contacted her to say he could perform “extreme surgery” which would involve removing her pancreas, spleen, gall bladder, stomach and part of the oesophagus.
The 12-hour operation was a success and Susan was given the all-clear, leaving her to enjoy the future running her pottery studio.
Among many other highlights, he operated live by video link to 2,000 consultants at a meeting in Switzerland, set up a liver surgery unit in the Caribbean which he is still part of and has presented and published his work across the world.
“I have had a crazy career and sometimes I feel I’ve had several as a trainee, consultant surgeon, lead medical examiner and associate medical director and my charity career which is ongoing,” said Neil.
“I was trained by surgeons who always felt the bar could be raised higher and they would do things others wouldn’t – this suited my character, personality traits and beliefs.
“They were also adored by their patients and I wanted that, so throughout my career I treated them like friends – if you put yourself in a patients’ position it changes how you see things.
“PLANETS has transformed so many things, including the relationship between clinicians, patients, families and the public, and it is certainly the thing out of everything I am most proud of.”
Layla Stephen, now chief executive of PLANETS and one of Neil’s patients, said: “Neil is unique. A huge role model who cares deeply about his patients and I have had the pleasure of watching him for the last 14 years touch more lives than I can possibly count.
“We are all so incredibly lucky to have Neil in our lives. The enormous difference Neil has made to so many lives, across the board, is nothing short of a miracle.
“When we talk about legends, there is absolutely no doubting Neil is one of those and he deserves all the plaudits he will receive upon retirement.”
READ ABOUT HOW FUNDS ARE USED
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PLANETS Funds New Wellbeing Room for Liver Ward at UHS
PLANETS funds new wellbeing room for liver patients at University Hospital Southampton A new wellbeing room funded by PLANETS Cancer Charity has been opened for patients with liver diseases at University Hospital Southampton. The facility, located on the gastroenterology and hepatology ward, provides a quiet space for patients and a place for private conversations which […]
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PLANETS funds novel 3D printed livers to aid complex surgery
Surgeons in Southampton are the first in the UK to begin using 3D printed models of patients’ livers to help them perform a complex cancer operation. Converting the data available from CT and MRI scans of patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma – a type of bile duct cancer – into 3D models will enable better planning […]
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PLANETS Charity Welcome Coach Alison Bailey to their Support Team
Here at PLANETS we understand how daunting a cancer diagnosis can be. We know firsthand the transformative power of support throughout the cancer journey and have experienced ourselves the highs and lows, the triumphs and setbacks and the profound impact they can have on your life. We are very happy to be welcoming Alison Bailey, […]
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PLANETS completes £1 million fundraising campaign to purchase pioneering radiotherapy machine
PLANETS has thanked its supporters after completing a £1 million fundraising campaign and making the final payment for a pioneering radiotherapy machine. PLANETS Cancer Charity has been fundraising for the past six years to fully purchase Mobetron, a revolutionary mobile device which delivers radiotherapy during surgery – known as intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT). When the charity […]
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PLANETS Receive £10,000 Grant from The Hospital Saturday Fund
Thank you to John Greenwood, Trustee of the The Hospital Saturday Fund, for visiting us on Monday and bringing this incredible grant of £10,000 to support our IORT (Intra Operative Radiotherapy) machine. This will enable us to continue delivering this lifesaving treatment at University Hospital Southampton – the only centre in the UK currently offering […]
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PLANETS Fund ‘New View’ Psychotherapy Course for NET Patients
PLANETS have funded a psychotherapy programme, after a successful pilot course, to help NET patients see their diagnosis in a ‘new view’. We all know that different people deal with their neuroendocrine cancer diagnosis very differently. Initially there are lots of scary tests and Doctor appointments. Then there are lots of talk about […]
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Head and Neck Cancer Patient Treated with IORT in UK First
A woman from Salisbury has become the first patient in the UK with head and neck cancer to receive radiotherapy in the operating theatre during surgery to remove a recurrent tumour. Jayne Garrett, 53, underwent major surgery at University Hospital Southampton on 25 April after suffering a recurrence of her cancer following conventional treatment […]
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PLANETS Host the 1st National IORT Symposium
It was an honour to present the fantastic work and great initial results to medics from all over the country at our 1st National IORT (intra-operative radiotherapy) Symposium on Friday June 21st at University Hospital Southampton. After a lot of hard work and fundraising in order to bring IORT to the UK for the […]
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PLANETS Cancer Charity and the Robert White Trust, Fund a new regional NET Cancer Dietitian
A dietitian funded by PLANETS Cancer Charity and the Robert White Trust Fund is due to start work to develop and provide a comprehensive dietetic service to patients diagnosed with Neuroendocrine Cancer (NETs). Ruth Lee will be based at the Dorset NET service, which is part of the Wessex European Neuroendocrine tumour society centre […]
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Southampton Secure £200k from The Robert White Trust for NETs Research
PLANETS are excited to share the news that University Hospital Southampton have secured £200,000 funding from the Robert White Trust for a research project that aims to gain a better understanding of NET biology which may lead to a greater range of treatment options for patients with this rare disease. Robert White was a former […]
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Bowel cancer patient becomes first in UK to be treated with IORT
We are thrilled and proud to update our supporters that a Southampton bowel cancer patient has become the first in the UK to receive radiotherapy during surgery using the IORT machine that PLANETS has funded. he 58-year-old male, who completed a combination of conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy in August, underwent major surgery at Southampton […]
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IORT Launch is a Success!
SOUTHAMPTON CLINICIANS PIONEER USE OF REVOLUTIONARY CANCER DEVICE PLANETS founders Neil Pearce and Brian Stedman, together with fund manager Layla Stephen successfully launched our long awaited IORT machine last night. The Mobetron is the first portable system able to administer the treatment in this way – known as intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) – and will […]
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IORT Arrives at Southampton!
PLANETS are thrilled to announce that the eagle (finally) has landed! 2 tons of intra-operative radio-therapy machine (IORT) arrived from the USA this week – currently undergoing acceptance testing. This is the UK’s first ever mobile electron beam radiotherapy machine for treating cancers during surgery. Thanks to everyone who has supported our fundraising which has […]
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Southampton Aiding Research into Earlier Diagnosis for Pancreatic Cancer
You may have notice that Southampton was mentioned in recent media stories regarding The National Tumour Bank that is carrying out important pancreatic cancer research? Colin Johnson, Professor of Surgical Sciences at University of Southampton, has this to say about the project: ‘The National Tissue Bank is a major development in pancreatic cancer research. Several […]
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Sainsbury’s Hedge End Donate Digital Radios
A big thank you to Sainsbury’s Hedge End for donating two digital radios to PLANETS to be used in the lead lined Gamma Scanner Rooms at Southampton General. Pictured presenting the radios to staff in the scanner rooms are PLANETS Fund Manager, Layla Stephen, and Dr Brian Stedman.
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PLANETS to Fund Pancreatic Cancer Research at Southampton
PLANETS Charitable Fund are excited to have committed to provide a grant over a two year period for a pancreatic research project: ́The role of Eps8 in αvβ6-dependent functions in pancreatic cancer invasion’ to be undertaken by Dr Jo Tod. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PC) has one of the worst outcomes of any cancer; only 3.7% of patients […]
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First Patient Receives PRRT at Southampton thanks to PLANETS
[social_button button=”facebook” flayout=”standard ” fwidth=”450″ faction=”like” fcolorsheme=”light”] UHS magazine Connect featured a fantastic article about NET patient Maureen McKenzie who, in July 2013, became the first Southampton patient to receive PRRT (peptide receptor radionuclide therapy). The equipment for this treatment was jointly funded by UHS and PLANETS showing just how important and valuable the […]
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Improving Patient Services Across the Region
[social_button button=”facebook” flayout=”standard ” fwidth=”450″ faction=”like” fcolorsheme=”light”] Pancreatic cancer affects over 8000 patients each year in the uk and remains the fifth biggest cancer killer in the UK, despite this its has been underfunded for many years and currently receives just 1% of total cancer research funding in the UK. NETs are a rare form […]
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