Patients at Leeds Cancer Centre are benefitting from a new surgical laser thanks to £138,000 raised by Leeds Cares

Earlier in the year, hospital charity Leeds Cares launched an appeal to buy the machine, which is now being used to support surgery on patients with primary and metastatic cancer in the lung.

The Limax laser is a small but precise hand-held device that is used by surgeons to perform endobronchial treatment - the removal of blockages from the lungs or airway. It can also be used to cut cancer out of the lung whilst protecting a significant amount of the organ left behind. More than 20 doctors and nurses have already been trained in how to use the laser.

The first patient to be treated with the new equipment was 71-year-old grandmother Lorraine Colley from Kettlethorpe in Wakefield. She underwent surgery earlier this week to remove a growth on her lung, after being diagnosed with cancer in 2016. After just a few days stay in hospital, Lorraine is expected to return home to her children and grandchildren by the weekend.

Kostas Papagiannopoulos, a senior consultant thoracic surgeon at Leeds Cancer Centre, performed Lorraine’s surgery. He said: “We use the laser on patients who might be more complex or whose tumours are very close to other organs or arteries. The laser allows us to reach difficult places within the airway and lungs with very minimal blood loss. The surgery time is also often quicker, meaning the patient recovers from the anaesthetic more quickly.

“We are extremely grateful to all the people who have donated to this appeal; their wonderful contribution and consideration has equipped us with a tool which will transform the way we are able to provide surgery to lung cancer patients in Yorkshire.”