Comprehensive cancer surgery at HCA Healthcare UK

You can be assured that at HCA UK, our specialist cancer surgery combines the expertise of our consultant surgeons with state-of-the-art facilities and technology, to ensure you have access to the most advanced surgical techniques.

Our team of expert surgeons can perform the latest complex and routine surgeries across multiple cancer types. From open, laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgery to advanced procedures such as HIPEC with cytoreductive surgery, you can be assured of the best possible treatment and care.

About cancer surgery

Surgery is one of the most common treatments for many types of cancer. If you have been diagnosed with cancer your medical team may recommend surgery as part of your personalised treatment and care plan. We offer all types of cancer surgery, from the routine to the most complex.

Surgery may be recommended for a number of reasons:

To diagnose or confirm the diagnosis of cancer
Staging - looking at the size and extent of the cancer
Removing a tumour
Reducing the size of a tumour
Reconstructing a part of the body
To relieve the symptoms of advanced cancer
To reduce your risk of developing cancer

Surgery may be the only treatment required to treat your cancer, or it may form part of your wider treatment plan. The type of surgery recommended to you will depend on your individual diagnosis; including the type and stage of cancer you have been diagnosed with.

As a leader in cancer care, we have the expertise, technology, and facilities to provide you with the best possible surgical options tailored to your individual needs.

Colorectal and Robotic Surgery Centre 0123_17

Benefits of cancer surgery at HCA UK

Our surgeons are leaders in the field of cancer care, combining a wealth of experience and a commitment to excellence, you can be assured of the highest standard of surgical treatment, tailored to your unique needs.

We invest in the latest advancements in medical technology and surgical techniques to ensure optimal outcomes.
With access to the latest equipment, our expert surgeons can provide the most advanced diagnostic procedures and surgical techniques.
As well as providing surgery for more common cancers, our specialists provide surgery for the treatment of rare cancers, such as peritoneal, penile, and anal cancers.
You may need a higher level of care to help you recover from your surgery. All our hospitals have a level 3 ITU onsite to ensure we can provide this level of care if needed.

The Lister Hospital, MDT, September 2021

Your dedicated team of experts

Every person’s cancer diagnosis is unique, and requires a personalised approach. From diagnosis, to treatment and follow-up care, our multidisciplinary team (MDT) of cancer experts, which is led by your chosen consultant, meet to discuss and recommend the best possible treatment plan for you as an individual.

Our multidisciplinary teams bring together a group of experts who specialise in different areas of cancer care. As a combination of treatments is often used to treat cancer, your surgical team work closely with the wider MDT, who can provide your chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and other anti-cancer therapies, if recommended as part of your treatment plan.

Learn more about MDTs at HCA UK

Your Clinical Nurse Specialist support

Working closely with your chosen consultant, you will receive the dedicated support of a named Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). CNSs are expert nurses who specialise in specific types of cancer, and cancer treatments, including the various types of cancer surgery.

Our team of CNS’s are on hand to give you, and your loved ones, the support, advice and care that’s right for you. They will coordinate your care with the wider clinical team, providing medical, practical, and emotional support, throughout your treatment and follow-up care.

They can also refer you to other specialists who are here to support you, such as physiotherapists, dieticians, and psychologists, when needed.

Learn more about CNS care at HCA UK

Surgical collaboration

Our cancer surgeons often collaborate with HCA UK surgeons in other medical specialties, such as cardiology, to perform complex operations that require a range of expertise and experience.

This collaborative approach ensures that, where required, you will receive comprehensive care, drawing on the expertise of various specialists to achieve the best possible outcomes.

Complex cancer surgery

We have the surgical expertise and advanced technology to provide a wide range complex surgical procedures, including:

Cytoreductive Surgery with HIPEC

Cytoreductive Surgery with HIPEC (Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy), is a highly specialised cancer treatment which combines surgery and chemotherapy. It’s primarily used for peritoneal cancer, or cancers that have spread to the lining of the abdomen, known as the peritoneum.

First, the surgeon will perform cytoreductive surgery, which is surgery to remove any visible tumours. Then, a heated chemotherapy solution is circulated within the abdomen. This means that a high dose of chemotherapy can directly target cancer cells in the abdomen during the operation.

Learn more

Liver resection

A liver resection, also known as a hepatectomy, is a complex surgical procedure in which part of the liver is removed. This procedure is used to treat primary liver cancer, which is cancer that started in the liver, or liver metastasis, which is cancer that has travelled from another part of the body and formed a tumour or tumours.

Liver resection surgery is highly complex because the liver has a large number of blood vessels, making surgery very intricate and challenging.

At HCA UK, liver resection surgery is performed by our specialist surgeons, to ensure the best outcomes and minimise risks.

Learn more

Robotic-assisted cancer surgery

Robotic-assisted surgery is an advanced surgical procedure using the latest technology. The term ‘robotic’ can be confusing but it’s not a robot performing the surgery, instead highly skilled surgeons use robotic instruments, to carry out more precise and less invasive surgery.

The da Vinci robotic surgical system can provide many benefits, including shorter hospital stays, less recovery time and reduced post-operative pain. It’s being used to treat more and more cancers including urological, bowel and gynaecological cancers.

Your consultant can explore the option of robotic surgery with you. In some instances you may benefit from other surgical techniques. Your consultant will discuss this with you and recommend the most effective surgical treatment for your individual diagnosis.

Learn more

Expert cancer surgery at HCA Healthcare UK

Expertise: Our surgeons and surgical teams have extensive experience in performing a wide range of cancer surgery, including reconstructive surgeries. We provide some of the most complex and innovative cancer surgery, including Cytoreductive Surgery with HIPEC in both London and Manchester.

Innovation: We are committed to continuous innovation. We adopt the latest and most effective treatment techniques, and invest in the most advanced technology, to ensure our patients have access to innovative surgical treatment options at the earliest opportunity.

State-of-the-art surgical facilities: Our hospitals have state-of-the-art surgical theatres to ensure the highest level of care and safety for our patients.

Robotic-assisted surgery: We were early adopters of robotic surgery and our expert surgeons provide the latest robotic surgery innovations across multiple specialties including head and neck, colorectal, gynaecological, thoracic, and urological cancers, with access to latest da Vinci Xi surgical system.

We're the only private provider to train surgeons on the robotic da Vinci surgical system and are proud to be the first healthcare provider in the UK* to offer patients access to the da Vinci Single Port (SP) surgical system.

Comprehensive care and support: From diagnosis to recovery, our multidisciplinary team collaborates to provide comprehensive care tailored to your unique needs, being sure to address not only the physical aspects of your cancer diagnosis, but also the emotional and psychological impact.

CQC ratings: All our hospitals have been rated Good or Outstanding.

^{*(As of 22 April 2024)}