Ulrika Axelsson, Clinical Director at NanoEcho, swapped a day in the office for a day at the endoscopy unit at Skåne University Hospital (SUS) in Malmö, to follow Professor Henrik Thorlacius, Associate Professor Carl-Fredrik Rönnow, and their colleagues.
Several local procedures were performed during the day to remove rectal tumors, known as ESD (Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection). This is a minimally invasive procedure using an endoscope, which more patients could undergo if there was a more reliable assessment of possible spread to the lymph nodes, which is what NanoEcho’s diagnostic method aims to provide. This would enable less extensive procedures for patients with rectal cancer who do not have tumor cell spread to local lymph nodes, thus contributing to significant health economic benefits.
“It’s amazing to see the craftsmanship and precision with which the tumor is removed millimeter by millimeter. I increasingly realize what a fantastic method this is – an hour of endoscopic surgery with direct discharge instead of a major operation with consequences such as stomas and long hospital stays. I left the hospital with my head full of thoughts and new experiences. The journeys of the four patients are hard to forget. But above all, I feel immense gratitude and humility for what we do, and I am incredibly inspired for our continued work ahead,” says Ulrika Axelsson after a day at the clinic.
