We are proud to announce a substantial donation of £150,000 towards the establishment of a groundbreaking service for the detection of precancerous cells.
The pioneering initiative, spearheaded by David James, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, aims to identify and treat precancerous cells before they progress to anal cancer.
In the UK, there are 1,500 new anal cancer cases each year, with the number of new cases projected to rise from around 1,900 cases in 2023-2025 to around 2,400 cases in 2038-20401. It particularly affects those who are immunosuppressed, for example transplant patients, and early detection is crucial for effective treatment and improved patient outcomes.
Recognising the importance of proactive measures, Occtopus’ contribution will enable the creation of a state-of-the-art service at Oxford University Hospitals, with the money donated going towards highly technical laser equipment, specialised microscopes known as colposcopes and examination couches.
This service will leverage cutting-edge technology and expertise to identify precancerous conditions and intervene at the earliest possible stage, offering a ‘one stop shop’ for patients in Oxfordshire and beyond, creating one of few hubs for this kind of treatment in the UK.
David James, a highly respected and experienced Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, will lead the efforts in developing and implementing this innovative service and comments: “By establishing a specialised service for the detection of precancerous cells around the bottom, we can proactively intervene and prevent the development of anal cancer.
“This service will not only save lives but also provide patients with a greater quality of life and peace of mind with a more streamlined patient experience. It can also prevent the need for long periods of Chemoradiotherapy, which affects a patient and their family for months at a time, by detecting cancer before it spreads. Therefore, this new service, which isn’t available locally, will have a huge impact on patients in Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties.
Professor Neil Mortensen, Chair at Occtopus said: “We are thrilled to support this groundbreaking project led by David James and the dedicated team at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust.
“Our donation underscores our commitment to advancing research, prevention, and patient care in the fight against colon cancer and we are confident that this innovative service will make a substantial impact in the detection and prevention of anal cancer, creating a nationally recognised centre that can act as a blueprint for other NHS hospitals.”
“Together, Octopus and Oxford University Hospitals aim to improve patient outcomes, raise awareness about cancer prevention, and pioneer advancements in the field of anal cancer detection and treatment.”
