Patient stories: Some of our patient's share their experiences to help others undergoing medical treatment
HCA Healthcare UK , LondonLatest patient stories
Decades of knee pain: Judith’s story
Retired physiotherapist and keen artist, Judith has had knee pain since she was in her forties. At the age of 81, after years of suffering, she made the decision to explore her options to cure her knee pain.
Read moreA perfect match: How Lister Fertility Clinic helped two fathers-to-be
Paul McFadden is sitting in his home in Belfast, with his husband Neil and their beautiful three-month-old son Felix, talking about their journey to fatherhood – a journey that the Lister Fertility Clinic, part of HCA Healthcare UK, accompanied them on.
Read moreJustine’s story
“I would have considered myself to be extremely well-informed about ovarian cancer symptoms because a number of risk factors applied to me, I knew what to look out for. But even so, in hindsight I know I missed things or explained them away. When I look back, I think maybe I should have taken action a little bit earlier.”
Read moreNikki's story
“I didn’t feel I could go to the doctor and just say I was tired…”
Nikki had been feeling much more tired than usual, was experiencing some mild back pain, and had noticed she was bloated, but it was when her period lasted for over two weeks that she became concerned and went to see her GP. Shortly after, in June 2023, she was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer, aged 44.
Read moreGetting back on board: Sarah-Jane’s return from knee injury
It was when she slipped on the dancefloor at an office party that 38-year-old Sarah-Jane finally realised something wasn’t right with her knee. A keen skateboarder and tennis player, Sarah-Jane had always led an active lifestyle, but never thought much about injuries.
Read moreThere’s no place like home: An intestinal failure success story
Jon Ashby, 58, is recalling his referral for surgery a little over 10 years ago. Having lived with Crohn's disease of the small intestine for most of his life, he was showing signs of intestinal failure (IF) and was becoming dangerously malnourished.
Read moreKriti’s story. Knee reconstruction for the bride-to-be
As Kriti Singh stepped off the dance floor at her thirtieth birthday party in Varanasi, India, she felt a sharp pain in her right knee. With a ten-year history of knee trouble, this didn’t bode well. Kriti knew straight away something wasn’t right, but what was really worrying was that this was supposed to be her ‘good’ knee
Read moreHow knee surgery got one avid skier back on the slopes
After three months of hard work and dedication to her rehab exercises, Gaëlle’s pain hadn’t got any better and some of her movements were still significantly restricted, so her physio suggested she see a specialist, Mr Simon Thompson, consultant orthopaedic surgeon, at The Lister Hospital, who specialises in ACL and revision ACL surgery.
Read moreMike’s story: Decades of pain, resolved in weeks
When Mike injured his knee, he decided to seek specialist advice after receiving a recommendation. In April 2022, he met with orthopaedic surgeon Mr Simon Thompson at The Lister Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare UK, to explore his treatment options.
Read Mike's storyNicola’s story: An unexpected diagnosis
In March 2023, Nicola, 63, took on a new exercise and diet regime with the aim of losing weight she’d gained during the COVID-19 lockdown. The weight was starting to come off and Nicola lost a stone and a half, but despite her best efforts, she couldn’t seem to shift the weight on her tummy.
Read moreMy sarcoma journey: A story of personal transformation
When 30-year-old Salma Kadry first learned that a rare facial tumour had grown back, less than a year after completing intensive treatment, the news was devastating – both for her and her family. Here Salma shares her treatment experience with for an aggressive cancerous lesion.
Read moreAdrian's story: A perforated gallbladder
Adrian was on a three-month vacation with his wife, travelling across Europe, when he began to feel pain on the upper right-hand side of his stomach whilst staying in Scotland. His final leg of the journey took him to London, after speaking to his travel insurer, he was authorised to see a specialist at HCA Healthcare UK. Adrian had perforated his gallbladder and would need surgery immediately to fix it.
Read moreCharles' Story: Why early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is important
"Pancreatic cancer is particularly aggressive, so those early warning signs are critical. If you become suddenly jaundiced or suddenly start losing weight, if you become diabetic, if you’ve got family history, or you have a pain just below the ribs and/or in the mid or lower back, you need to act. You need to go and see your doctor."
Read moreVanessa's story: Being diagnosed with blood cancer
In 2010 Vanessa was diagnosed with myeloma - an incurable type of blood cancer - after seeking medical help for severe back pain, which she initially assumed was an injury from climbing; a hobby she had taken up earlier in the year. This year, Vanessa was amongst the first patients in the UK to be treated with the latest breakthrough treatment – Teclistamab; a type of immunotherapy known as a bispecific antibody.
Read moreValerie's story: Seeking a second opinion
Valerie was diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma in 2014 after noticing a swelling on her thigh, and was treated with radiotherapy and surgery at her local hospital. Two years later, after noticing a lump on her back, Valerie’s cancer was confirmed to have spread to her spine. At this point she decided to seek a second opinion, to see if any other treatment options could be explored.
Read moreMichael's story: Aortic Aneurysm, how complex is it?
75-year-old Michael from Yorkshire received a reminder from his GP that people over 65 should undergo routine screening for aneurysms. Michael’s screening results came back as a shock. "I had my scans and they found that I had a particularly complex condition. I had two aneurysms which were at risk of rupturing. One of them was a large one at the top of my stomach, near my chest, and another one was lower down, near the bottom of my stomach."
Read moreSafia's story: Her positive birthing experiences at The Portland Hospital
Safia had her first healthy baby with The Portland in 2014 and she was so happy with the experience, that she decided to come back again in 2018 and then recently, in 2020. Here, she shares her positive birthing experience at the hospital, across all three births, and talks through how the team put her and her partner at ease throughout.
Saleem's story: "Time is of the essence with my heart, as I have diabetes"
Saleem, 57, keeps an active lifestyle to remain fit and healthy. He plays badminton once a week and goes for a walk in the morning and evening every day. Despite having type 2 diabetes, he continues to have a balanced and energetic life. At the beginning of 2023, Saleem scheduled a health assessment at his local clinic. His ultrasound and ECG results showed a serious heart abnormality.
Read moreGeorgia's story and her scoliosis journey
Georgia, a 12-year-old girl from Bath and patient at The Portland Hospital, has raised an incredible £6,000 (and counting!) for scoliosis charities by drumming for 10 hours straight on Scoliosis Awareness Day. Georgia decided to do a Drumathon for Scoliosis UK and The British Scoliosis Research Foundation to raise awareness and funds for research and support for people with scoliosis. Watch Georgi's drumming video here.
An unexpected melanoma diagnosis for husband and wife
Several months after noticing an unusual spot on the back of his arm Paul was diagnosed with melanoma, the least common but most serious form of skin cancer. Just six months later, after finding an unusual spot on her forearm, Paul’s wife Christine was also diagnosed with melanoma. Here, Paul and Christine speak about their experience at The Christie Private Care, part of HCA Healthcare UK, and highlight the importance of protecting your skin and acting quickly if you notice something new or unusual.
Emilie's concussion story
"I just want to warn people they shouldn’t underestimate it," says 17-year-old Emilie. "Concussion can be really serious. I would urge people to get checked out as soon as possible, not just to 'wait and see'."
Swimmer overcomes atrial fibrillation with gold medal glory
Andrew, 58, has always been a competitive swimmer and is a winner at the Royal Navy Masters Open competition. What’s remarkable is he won these medals after heart surgery.
Read moreRhiannon’s courage: Recovering after scoliosis surgery
Read more of Rhiannon's experience of her spinal surgery at The Portland Hospital.
Read moreFrom painkillers to pain-free: Michael’s hip replacements
Michael shares his story about his hip replacements at HCA UK's The London Hip Unit.
Read moreRobot-assisted hernia surgery for a patient
Leading Consultant General Surgeon, Mr Charles Evans is trained in robotic surgical techniques, here one of his patient's shares their experience of undergoing robotic surgery for a hernia.
Read moreHana's recovery: Roaring back from a serious knee injury
Hana was a fearsome player on the pitch, but her commitment came at a price. In 2018 she tore her ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and was seen by Mr Simon Thompson.
Read moreAn Olympian effort: Chris’ fast-track to recovery
Chris' steely determination to constantly exceed people’s expectations has worked for him so far. Follow his journey with Professor Len Funk.
Read moreHow hip replacement changes after a decade
Eric has had two hip replacements in his life, about a decade apart, and he’s been impressed by the change in the experience.
Read moreA cure for ankle pain: Jane’s road to recovery
Read more about Jane's ankle surgery and recovery with renowned London Orthopaedic Surgeon Mr Andew Goldberg.
Read moreYvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, enjoying everything from fly fishing to pole dancing in her spare time, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
Read more“I didn’t realise how much my heart palpitations were affecting me”
How a life-changing cardiac procedure stopped Kirti worrying about her heart health
Mimi’s story: Scoliosis surgery at 58 degrees
Tamara first noticed something wasn't quite right with Mimi’s back during the pandemic, when Mimi was 14. "One of her hips was slightly higher than the other and her shoulder blade stuck out as well." When they finally got to see the GP, he said it was scoliosis straight away. Read Mimi's story about being diagnosed with scoliosis and the surgical treatment for misalignment.
Read moreEsteban's story: How ankle surgery saved a life
Esteban shares his story. The whole process, from initial X-ray to preparation for ankle surgery, had taken just a few hours, and this was to prove vital – but there was one more unexpected twist to come. The surgery revealed the presence of an enormous blood clot that could have cost him much more than his mobility.
Read moreMillie's story: Still hula hooping after scoliosis surgery
Millie’s parents first noticed a small hunch when Millie was 13 years old. They recognised it as possible scoliosis and took her to the GP, but they weren’t prepared for how severe it turned out to be.
Read moreDavid's story: A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David’s gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist, former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Read moreAndrew's story: Knee replacement with Mako robotic technology
Golf Professional Andrew share's his treatment journey and his experience of a knee replacement undertaken using the Mako robot
Read moreMichael's Mako Hip Surgery
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and Charity Worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. By March 2021, his mobility was severely affected, with ebbs and flows of intensity, but always present and impeding. He found Professor Richard Field through a recommendation and therefore, The Lister Hospital. Michael shares his story and explains why this surgery was so important.
Read moreRichard’s impressive recovery following his robotic prostate cancer surgery
Richard shares his experience following his robotic prostate surgery
Mike's story: 'Don't die of embarrassment'
60-year-old Mike from Buckinghamshire had been having regular annual health check-ups, but also used the NHS FIT kit in July. He received the result very quickly and was told that his screening showed traces of blood. After having multiple scans and tests over the next 20 days, doctors soon discovered that Mike had developed bowel cancer.
Read moreDavid's story: double knee replacement
David underwent a double knee replacement with the Mako robot and talks about his experience
Read moreRuth's spinal surgery story
When Mr Robert Lee (consultant spinal surgeon) first glanced at the MRI scan of retired music teacher Ruth’s lumbar spine, he did a double take. He thought there must have been a mix up with the imaging. Ruth and her husband Roger were both patients of Mr Lee, and both their scans showed signs of the same degenerative condition in exactly the same places in the back.
Read moreJohn's carcinoma diagnosis and treatment
68-year old retired investment banker John first realised something was wrong when he detected a lump on the side of neck
Jack's spinal scoliosis story
Jack’s mother Jaime noticed his shoulder blades were slightly uneven in March 2020, at the start of the UK COVID-19 lockdown. After being faced with a long wait for a referral, a chance recommendation led Jaime to turn to The Portland Hospital. Here Jaime shares their story and explain why this surgery was so important.
Read Jack's storyAntonia's chronic endometriosis
Antonia shares her story of how her endometriosis has been managed by specialists
Read more‘I thought I’d never dive again’
How life-saving hole-in-the-heart surgery helped Aithne return to the pastime she loves
The story behind clinical trials: Sezgin’s story so far
Since 2012, Sezgin Hick has been receiving treatment following a late-stage ovarian cancer diagnosis. After surgery and different combinations of chemotherapy, her cancer was no longer responding to standard therapies. It was at this point Sezgin’s consultant recommended a Phase 1 clinical trial
Elida's story: My birthing experience
Elida shares her story about giving birth during the COVID-19 pandemic
"Truly remarkable" kidney surgery: Jeff’s story
After seeing his GP for a routine check-up, and being referred for further tests, Jeff was stunned to discover that he in fact had been living with kidney cancer for several years.
Read moreDavid's story: Life-saving heart surgery
David tells his story about needing a triple heart bypass, during the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
Read moreIngrid's scoliosis surgery
How life-changing scoliosis surgery gave Ingrid the opportunity to get back to the activities she loved
Read moreRoger's story: Surgery for an enlarged prostate
Roger share's his story about undergoing Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP) at The Princess Grace Hospital.
Read moreJoyce's endometriosis and fertility story
15 years after being diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), Joyce was devastated to discover her symptoms were caused by endometriosis – a condition which, left untreated, can affect fertility.
Susan's heart health journey
Susan talks about about being diagnosed with a heart rhythm problem called atrial flutter.
Read moreDanielle's story
No matter how old you are, or how fit and healthy you appear, if something doesn’t feel right get checked.
Read moreCarol and Pinja share their skin cancer stories
'I didn't realise how serious skin cancer could be'
Read moreLiving with lynch syndrome
Mo was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer back in 2014, shortly before his 32nd birthday. Mo share's his story about living with lynch syndrome and how he approaches his future.
Keith's story: Time-critical surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic
Keith shares his story of receiving time-critical surgery from The Princess Grace Hospital team who partnered with the NHS
Read moreKatie's story: A life with endometriosis
Katie shares her experience of being diagnosed with and endometriosis and shares information about living with endometriosis.
Chantel's breast cancer experience
Chantal shares why she chose to have a preventative double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery
Robert's diagnosis received virtually
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown period, many patients saw a GP or consultant virtually. Five months after successful surgery to remove the growth, Robert speaks to us about his experience.
Read moreJulie's scoliosis journey
When Julie was diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of seven, her case was already more complex than most.
Lucy's caesarean delivery
When Lucy and her husband Ben found out their baby was in breech position they knew they needed to reconsider their plan for a natural birth.
Read moreJohn's prostate cancer diagnosis
An annual health check with a GP identified my prostate cancer
Read moreKrystina and Mario's story - 100th NHS baby born at The Portland Hospital
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and the consequent need to free up capacity in NHS hospitals to treat patients with COVID-19, Krystina was transferred to The Portland Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare UK – something that was made possible due to a ground-breaking partnership between the independent sector and the NHS.
Sarah's specialist surgery for rare sciatic endometriosis
“It was like they were talking about me - it finally linked my painful periods to the sciatic symptoms, and it made sense.”
Read moreTom's specialist complex urology surgery
Tom was born with an extremely rare form of the condition, called perineal hypospadias. Tom's mother Claire shares their story about a complete perineal hypospadias repair
Read moreAlice and Aaron's fertility treatment
After being told they would never have children, Alice and Aaron turned to the Lister Fertility Clinic.
Read moreRichard's prostate cancer story
After a routine health assessment with health insurance provider Bupa, Richard Eaton was shocked to discover that he had stage IIIA prostate cancer.
Read more