Mr Paul Thiruchelvam

Written by a patient at Charing Cross Hospital

Five stars isn't enough to describe just how good Mr Thiruchelvam has been to me and my family during my battle with cancer. He comes with a brilliant medical secretary Michelle, who was so efficient at organising all my appointments I felt like I had my own PA! From the first day I was diagnosed the main thing I remember was finishing my appointment with Mr Thiruchelvam and leaving the consultation room with my parents in a daze. I went off to get something and Mr Thiruchelvam, instead of running off as quickly as possible, took another half hour with my parents to give them additional reassurances for which I am eternally grateful. It's sometimes difficult to remember as a patient the impact a cancer diagnosis has on your surrounding family. He was totally aware of that from the get go. Mr Thiruchelvam is a brilliant surgeon and completely up to date with all the latest studies and new technology from around the world. He made a genius move in matching my personality to the plastic surgeon he recommended. By seeing him at Charing Cross meant that all my cancer consultants he gave me were in daily contact with each other. The communication between them all was outstanding. Don't worry if you can't pronounce his last name. Everyone calls him Dr Paul.

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Written by a patient at Charing Cross Hospital

Paul Thiruchelvam was my doctor guiding me from discovering I had breast cancer through to surgery. At all times he was professional, honest, supportive, attentive, and caring. I can't thank Paul enough for everything that he has done for me. His decision to do a biopsy despite nothing showing on my scans enabled him to spot a tumour that could have gone undiagnosed. The way he broke the awful news, responded to my tears and ensured I was fully informed was just perfect - professional yet thoughtful. They way he supported me through surgery and his advice about next steps made such a difference and has helped me make important decisions. Thankyou !

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Written by a patient at Charing Cross Hospital

I first met Mr Thiruchelvam in June 2017 following a referral from my local doctor for a breast lump check. From the moment I met Mr Thiruchelvam I was made to feel completely at ease, he was extremely professional, explaining all medical terminology and, empathetic to all of my concerns. Upon receiving the unexpected results that the lump had come back as abnormal, Mr Thiruchelvam was caring, pragmatic, understanding and gave me all the information required for myself and my family to digest the results. I never felt rushed during clinics and given my age and personal concerns regarding any visual indents or scaring that could arise post op, he addressed all my queries. I never felt like “just another patient” on his tick list. I appreciate how busy each professional in the NHS is and I believe this level of service has made these worrying few months as stress free as they possibly could be. When I mention Mr Thiruchelvam I had to acknowledge the team of doctors, nurses and medical staff around him who aid my treatment and were simply fantastic! In September I received the good news that my breast lump was not cancerous. I appreciate the follow up plan that has been put in place for future checks, putting my mind at ease. My only one small criticism of the service is appointment communication. This is not a reflection on the medical treatment I have received. For the first month letters were being sent to an old address which I have not lived at for 5 years and had no link to my referral address. On a number of occasions I had to call the team to confirm appointment dates and I only received confirmation of my operation date three days beforehand. As I said this is not a reflection on the medical treatment I have received. Many thanks to Mr Thiruchelvam and his team!

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Written by a patient at Charing Cross Hospital

I was hugely shocked to receive the diagnosis of having a type 2 cancerous tumour in my left breast. I had perviously had a few problems with the same breast but everything was always benign. However Paul Thiruchelvam was very clear in his assessment of the situation and explained all the options to me. After having an MRI scan and an ultrasound to establish exactly what was going on, I had a lumpectomy on my left breast and a reconstruction of the right breast to leave me with a matching pair. Throughout all my meetings with him he has shown great sensitivity and kindness and I never thought at any time that he was in a hurry. He spent time before the operation measuring me up and explaining how he would achieve a good end result. I have found all the team in the Breast Care Clinic approachable, gentle and sensitive. Unfortunately I developed an infection in the non cancerous breast which initiated taking antibiotics. As he was on holiday he arranged for me in his absence to see his colleague Dr Dan Leff who works in the same way. Paul called me from his holiday with the results of the biopsies of the lymph nodes which is really above and beyond the call of duty. I feel as if I have gone through one of the most upsetting medical procedures very easily and with huge thanks mainly to the manner and abilities of Paul Thiruchelvam. I was initially seen by him at Charring Cross Hospital but elected to have my operation done privately and so had the procedure at the Lister Hospital

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Written by a patient at Charing Cross Hospital

My diagnosis was confirmed on a Friday at the Breast Services Dept at Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham. Surgery was required but because of a pre booked holiday I was keen to try and get things done as soon as possible so that I could still go on my holiday on 1st September. Having had lung cancer last year and a major operation this was a large & unhappy bolt from the blue, hitting me just a year later with what I hope is another primary cancer. The clinical nurse specialist said she would see if there was anyone in the department that afternoon who might be able to fit me in the following week. After 30 mins she returned with Paul Thiruchelvam and within seconds I was talking to him about the operation that he could do on the Tuesday. It was all so fast, Paul seemed so confident and knowledgeable and within a few more minutes he was drawing felt tip lines all over my breasts and lining up how the operation would take place! Paul is very much a supreme, extremely qualified & vocational surgeon, loves what he does, takes enormous pride in giving 24/7 (and more) attention and is absolutely a consummate professional, 100% committed and in whose hands you have to consider you are very lucky to be. At every point Paul was to the point, keen to inform, keen to provide full on professional comment and understanding and it was rare that I had a question that he had not already answered. Paul went the extra mile (as I am sure he does all the time) to push through not only my operation to remove the tumour, take out some lymph glands for analysis and to repeat the process with the other breast and provide me with a ‘matching pair’. But he also pushed through the histology reports, begging favours and staying late in the night to get my results through quickly - and before he too went on holiday. He said he had achieved the quickest turnaround ever…...it was from diagnosis to operation to results in 7 days, Friday to Friday. AMAZING. Even more incredible was the lack of pain, With two breasts fully reconstructed I have managed on ibuprofen and paracetamol and in fact have only had to take 4 days off work, less than I would have taken off for a bout of flu. The anaesthetic was also incredible as I have a bad reaction to morphine and fentinol and for the first time in over 5 anaesthetics I was not sick on waking up. Thank you Mr Myatt. So please have full confidence in Paul as I cannot think of a single thing I would have changed, other than to wish probably for him and his family that he did not work such long hard hours to make us, his patients have such a great experience during such a stressful and worrying time. Thank you

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