A father diagnosed with cancer, a woman in her prime who was forced to stop working, and a lively 77-year-old who was living with the daily discomfort of a prolapsed bowel are back to enjoying life after undergoing technologically advanced minimally invasive robotic assisted surgeries.
| Gary Gilder is pictured enjoying a walk with his daughter and their dogs recently after advanced robotic assisted surgery for colorectal cancer with Dr Tim Forgan at Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital. |
| Estie Coetzer from Bloemfontein says she feels rejuvenated having the freedom to be more sociable again after her life-changing robotic assisted colorectal procedure. |
| Carolyn Pilling, 77, spent just one night in hospital following robotic assisted surgery for prolapsed bowel repair. She says she appreciated being able to go home the next day, and that she could drive and go shopping within a week of the operation. |
A father’s mid-40s shock cancer diagnosis
“It felt like someone threw a hand grenade into the room when I was diagnosed with colorectal cancer a year and a half ago,” says Gary Gilder, a father of two in his mid-forties from Milnerton who works in the entertainment industry.
He was referred to highly experienced accredited robotic colorectal surgeon Dr Tim Forgan, who is also president of the South African Colorectal Society at Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital’s colorectal unit.
“When any surgery to the lower colon is required, we are working within extremely narrow confines within the pelvis, and precision is therefore paramount to preserving bowel function when performing these operations,” says Dr Forgan, one of the most experienced robotic assisted surgeons in his subdiscipline.
“In recent years, robotic technology has given rise to more minimally invasive options for surgical treatment of tumours, rectal prolapse, bowel obstructions, and other lower colon related conditions. The latest flagship da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system allows us to see with great clarity, magnifying the finest details of the surgical field to 10 times greater than the naked eye,” he says.
“Mr Gilder was young to be having a total mesorectal excision, which is the surgical removal of the section of diseased colon and surrounding lymph nodes and tissue, and reconnection of the remaining healthy colon.”
“Dr Forgan was very thorough in preparation for my procedure, as he wanted to make sure this was the right approach for me because it is a major operation – it’s not like pulling a tooth,” Gary says.
“My recovery has been amazing. As a young, active, and otherwise healthy man, one of my greatest concerns going into surgery was the possibility of being left with a colostomy bag if the join was unsuccessful. When I woke up after the procedure, the first thing I did was check for a bag, and thankfully, in my case, that was completely avoided.
“I felt like I won the lottery, as I also did not require chemotherapy or radiation, and I am so grateful that the robotic assisted option was available to me. Thankfully, I have recently received the all-clear at my three-month follow-up, and I have been lucky enough to get through this to carry on with my life as before.”
“I got my life back” – mother of four, 46, from Bloemfontein
“Three years ago, I had a procedure for piles that went wrong and perforated my rectum, which left me in a lot of pain and meant I could not go to the toilet normally. I lost 35kg and had to give up my job because I had to spend half my day in the loo,” says Estie Coetzer, 46.
“I went to five doctors who told me there was nothing they could do to help me, that this was how my life would be. My condition affected everything. If we wanted to go on holiday, we had to plan our trip looking at the bathroom facilities along the way that would be clean and comfortable enough for me to spend half an hour in there – it was unavoidable.
“I felt very anxious about this every time I left home, and I was feeling depressed as it was impacting my sense of self as a woman. The condition was taking my dignity from me, and I knew this was not how life was supposed to be. Eventually, I was referred to Dr Forgan and we discussed the options for rectopexy surgery, and decided on the robotic assisted approach,” Estie says.
“He explained everything, including the potential risks of surgery, to me, and I was booked for the procedure. I have had a couple of operations in that area, and this time, I barely knew I had had an operation. Dr Forgan operated on the Wednesday, and the next day I was discharged, and we drove home to Bloemfontein.
“I am a new person. Immediately after the operation, I had less pain than before, and the scars are just small cuts on my tummy that I am now treating with tissue oil. The procedure with Dr Forgan has also restored my passion for people. I love to make someone smile, even just spending 10 minutes chatting to a stranger in the supermarket. People need that human connection, and I feel rejuvenated having the freedom to be more sociable again.”
Bowel prolapse repair for Gordon’s Bay resident, 77
“I had a bowel prolapse repair years ago, and the robotic assisted operation was such a different experience, I don’t know why I didn’t do it sooner,” says Carolyn Pilling, a 77-year-old British ex-patriot living in Gordon’s Bay.
“We drove through to Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital in Cape Town, and Dr Forgan explained everything about what he would do.
“When he mentioned there is robotic technology involved, I was curious to see the robot as I was imagining something out of a futuristic alien movie. I woke up with five faint little marks on my stomach but no pain, it was marvellous,” adds Mrs Pilling, who emigrated to South Africa from Lancashire in northern England in 1981.
“I know from experience that when you have had an operation there, you usually have to stay in hospital for several days and you can’t sit up in bed, and you really feel the recovery for a long time. This was completely different, as I spent just one night in hospital, and I went home the next day. The same week, I could drive and go to the shops.
“I am so grateful to Dr Forgan that my discomfort is over. My only regret is that I wasn’t awake to see the robot in theatre.”
Ends
Notes to editor
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