Cllr Christoper Buckmaster helped secure the funds for high-tech equipment at Charing Cross Hospital.
With the wave of a magic wand, Kensington and Chelsea’s former mayor has helped raise over a quarter of a million pounds for ground-breaking equipment in the battle against brain cancer.
Councillor Christopher Buckmaster’s Magic Wand Appeal helped secure the funds for a £250,000 SonoWand Invite; high-tech neurosurgery equipment, for Imperial College’s Charing Cross Hospital.
The ultrasound scanner, enabling more accurate brain surgery, has been installed at the hospital’s neurosurgery centre, marking a significant step forward for brain cancer treatment inLondon.
“This is marvellous news and a fitting end to the campaign to raise funds for research and machinery at Charing Cross Hospital,” said Cllr Buckmaster.
“It has also increased public awareness of the desperate need for funding for brain cancer treatment. I am so proud of everyone’s efforts.”
More than 800 Londoners are diagnosed with a brain, central nervous system or intracranial tumour every year while less than one per cent of cancer research funding goes to brain tumours.
Kevin O’Neill, consultant neurosurgeon at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust said that accurately locating a tumour and safely removing it is a real challenge for surgeons.
“The new equipment could revolutionise brain surgery, translating into patients living longer and having the opportunity to benefit from our further research,” added Mr O’Neill.
“This is great news for brain tumour patients in London and for our team here at Charing Cross Hospital. The new model is a major advance.”
The new equipment helps surgeons operate more accurately, safely and quickly by converting pre-operative MRI scans into a virtual 3D reconstruction of the brain.
During the procedure surgeons are able to see rapidly updated images of the brain and brain movement in real time so that they can remove as much of a tumour as possible without damaging healthy tissue.
“It is such exciting news thatCharing CrossHospitalhas the latest model,” said Alexandra Dixon, one of Mr O’Neill’s former patients.
“The machine provides excellent imaging in real time during surgery – and I was lucky enough to be the first patient inLondonto benefit from it.”
Sandra Stankovic, a mother of two children and founder of an IT company, was operated on by Mr O’Neill using an older model of the SonoWand.
“The tumour was successfully removed and I am doing really well,” said Sandra.
“The SonoWand meant the surgeon was not operating `blind’ on my brain. With the new SonoWand equipment, I believe the treatment will be even better.”
Photo courtesy of tedeytan, with thanks.
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