Private Care Magazine, Issue 4 - The Royal Marsden

Skin and plastics focusSpotlight onSKIN AND PLASTICSThe arrival of Dr Christopher Harland and Mr Kelvin Ramsey promises a revolutionin skin cancer care and reconstructive surgery at The Royal Marsdenhe Royal Marsdenis proud to welcometwo world-leadingconsultants: Dr ChristopherHarland, ConsultantDermatologist, and Mr KelvinRamsey, Consultant Plasticand Reconstructive Surgeon.Individually, they are leadersin their respective fields, buttogether, they are combiningtheir expertise to providepatients with the best clinicaland aesthetic outcomes.Dr Harland will focus onthe early detection of skincancer, skin cancer surgeryand laser therapy. Since joiningThe Royal Marsden, he hasbeen undertaking importantcollaborative research with themelanoma team into the toxicityreaction from cancer-relateddrugs – in particular, newertherapies such as vemurafenib.“Not all dermatologists dowhat I do,” says Dr Harland.“The essence of what I do issee, diagnose and treat – allunder one roof.”Meanwhile, as well as hisdaily focus on reconstructionfor breast cancer, head andneck cancer and sarcomapatients, Mr Ramsey is workingon an exciting doctorate inlymphoedema surgery research.Looking at ways to reducethe long-term swelling of thearm following the removal oflymph nodes from the armpit,Mr Ramsey aims to dramaticallyalleviate the long-term effectsof lymphoedema surgery.The technique involves the latestadvancements in microsurgicaltechniques coupled with imagingsystems to identify the lymphaticchannels in the arm, and thenrerouting them into thebloodstream, thus emptyingthe excess fluid and curingthe lymphoedema.“The combination of imagingsystems and surgery issomething that has not beendone anywhere before,” saysMr Ramsey. “If it is successful,it means that we couldpotentially change patients’“THE COMBINATIONOF IMAGING SYSTEMSAND SURGERY ISSOMETHING THATHAS NOT BEEN DONEANYWHERE BEFORE”MR KELVIN RAMSEY, CONSULTANTPLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVESURGEONlives. In the past, they mighthave needed to wear a stockingfor the rest of their life.”Dr Harland and Mr Ramseyrun parallel clinics at The RoyalMarsden. “By working togetherfrom the outset, we are ableto offer patients the best clinicaland aesthetic outcome,” saysDr Harland.“Meeting the patient togetheris so important,” adds MrRamsey. “We can discussany complicated issues andwe gain a greater understandingof how each of us needs toapproach the individual case.The more planning you cando in plastics, the better theoutcome for the patient.”Dr Harland and Mr Ramseywill both also play a major rolein the establishment of an earlydetection unit for skin cancerat our Sutton site.10 The Royal Marsden Private Care