Main content

Episode 6

A breast cancer patient and her surgeon of nine years hope a third operation means she can live life fully again, and three surgeons remove a tumour that is a 'ticking time-bomb.'

In the breast centre at University Hospital Llandough, health worker Michaela has been a patient for almost a decade, treated throughout that time by clinical lead Eleri Davies. Michaela had a double mastectomy but is among the ten per cent of women with breast cancer who unfortunately see their cancer return. Eleri prioritises Michaela for this third life-saving operation, knowing she only has a small window to do so.

In the same hospital, 68-year-old Garry, a retired water inspector and grandfather, has been on a waiting list for a new hip for over two years. The orthopaedic department has more than 4,000 patients waiting for surgery, with almost a quarter for hip replacements. Compounded by an ageing population and impact of Covid, orthopaedic consultant Phil Thomas has never witnessed anything like it. As he fights to reduce the ever-growing number of patients, he is concerned Garry’s surgery could be far trickier if his arthritis has worsened while waiting.

Meanwhile, over at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, ear, nose and throat consultant Stuart Quine is preparing for a complex operation on a rare benign tumour in the neck of mum-of-three Sharon. The operation is high-risk due to the tumour being so close to the carotid artery, the vessel which supplies blood to the brain.

11 months left to watch

58 minutes

Audio described

On TV

Friday 00:00

More episodes

Next

You are at the last episode

See all episodes from Saving Lives in Cardiff

Credits

Role Contributor
Narrator Rakie Ayola
Director Tom Bowman
Director Luke Pavey
Producer Lucy Rogers
Producer Laura Martin-Robinson
Producer Jonny Mills
Series Producer Sophia Thompson
Executive Producer Gaynor Davies
Executive Producer Jackie Waldock
Production Company Label1 Television Ltd

Broadcasts

Step into the shoes of a busy NHS consultant in our virtual hospital

Follow a patient's hospital journey and learn how shared treatment decisions are made.