KIDNEY cancer patients in Cornwall are set to benefit from improved access to a minimally invasive treatment, following the successful completion of the first microwave ablation procedure for renal cancer at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT).

The new service is expected to improve outcomes and reduce the need for patients to travel long distances for treatment, ensuring more people across Cornwall can benefit from advanced cancer therapy.

The pioneering treatment involves inserting a fine antenna into a renal tumour while the patient is under general anaesthetic. Using CT imaging for precise guidance, clinicians deliver microwave energy to destroy the tumour without the need for major surgery. The introduction of the service marks a significant milestone for cancer care in Cornwall, following more than five years of work to secure approval and establish the procedure locally.

Until now, patients requiring this specialist treatment had to travel to Plymouth. An RCHT audit found that up to 30 per cent of eligible patients were unable to do so due to social, personal or practical reasons, often opting for major surgery closer to home. The first patient treated at RCHT recovered well and was able to return home the following day. The procedure was led by a multi-disciplinary team including interventional radiology consultants Helena Barton, Rhys Llewelyn and Angie Rogers, supported by Dr Jonathan Skinner from the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and industry expert Dan Canning from Angiodynamics Solero.

Mark Mantle, head of cancer services, said: “We’re delighted the first case went so well. This is an important development for patients in Cornwall, providing access to a minimally invasive treatment closer to home. We hope to expand this service to treat some types of liver cancer and liver metastases in the coming months.”