In late 2023, Mr Whitehill began feeling unwell and visited a GP at a Bupa centre. While the initial assessment suggested nothing serious, the doctor took the time to conduct a more thorough examination. Upon closer inspection of Mr Whitehill’s throat, concerns were identified, and a same-day referral was made to Cromwell Hospital for Mr Whitehill to see Mr Asit Arora, a consultant renowned for treating patients with a calm and compassionate approach, for suspected head and neck cancer.
“If I never went to the Bupa GP, this thing would’ve been burbling away in me and I wouldn’t have known,” Mr Whitehill shared. “I saw the GP at 11am and by 3pm the same day, I had a referral email to Mr Arora.”
In early 2024, Mr Whitehill met with Mr Asit Arora, an expert recognised internationally for pioneering transoral robotic surgery (TORS) in the UK. For someone who had rarely needed hospital care before, Mr Arora’s reassuring presence made a world of difference.
Under Mr Arora’s expert care, Mr Whitehill underwent TORS, a minimally invasive surgical technique that uses a robotic system to find and remove head and neck cancer. Thanks to this advanced technology and the skill of the surgical team, Mr Whitehill has since made a steady and successful recovery.
“After undergoing diagnostic tests at Cromwell Hospital, I was able to diagnose Mr Whitehill with throat cancer and reassure him that he was in the best place for managing the problem,” Mr Arora shared.
After discussing his treatment options, Micheal elected to undergo TORS to completely remove the cancer. In addition, he underwent a neck operation to remove potentially involved lymph nodes.
“We were all delighted when the results confirmed that the throat tumour had been completely excised and there were no pathologically involved lymph nodes.”
This meant that Michael avoided the need for gruelling additional treatment, such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
Mr Arora said: “This targeted approach represents a really excellent treatment option because it’s a minimally invasive technique which gets a curative outcome without compromising on long term swallow function. Mr Whitehill undergoes regular monitoring, and his recovery thus far has been absolutely spot on.
We’re proud to offer some of the most advanced head and neck cancer treatments available. Our multidisciplinary team works closely to ensure every patient receives the highest standard of care from diagnosis through to recovery.”
Today, Mr Whitehill is back to enjoying life, deeply grateful for the professionalism, compassion, and expertise that guided him through his journey.
“Everybody from the nursing staff to the catering staff were so wonderful and the food was fantastic. I will always be grateful to Mr Arora for his expertise in the operating theatre and how we eased me through a difficult time.”
