Herne Bay man has bladder tumours treated as NHS outpatient
He said he was "a little bit nervous" before undergoing the new procedure, as he feared it might not be as effective."But it was exactly the same, just without the general anaesthetic," he said."I watched it on screen. I could see everything, and it was just like watching a documentary. I was even able to direct the consultant to where the tumour was."
'Major step forward'
The procedure saw lead consultant for superficial bladder cancer, Georgios Papadopoulos, insert a thin flexible tube with a camera and light into Mr Payne's urethra.He then took biopsies of the tumour before it was removed using a laser. Any remaining cancer cells were killed using chemotherapy. Mr Papadopoulos said: "This is a major step forward in how we treat patients with small tumours in their bladder."The Prostate Cancer Support Association Kent donated two laser machines, while the League of Friends of the Kent and Canterbury Hospital also helped provide funding.
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