Former Cairns mayor Kevin Byrne tells of remarkable cancer surgery in Townsville
Respected Cairns businessman Kevin Byrne is all for innovation and pioneering Far North projects, but not in the scenario he found himself in when lying on an operating table in Townsville.
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PROMINENT Cairns businessman Kevin Byrne is all for innovation and pioneering Far North projects, but not in the scenario he found himself in when lying on an operating table in Townsville.
In an epic story of teamwork and trust between the one-time Cairns Mayor and a former Cowboys NRL player-turned leading Australian surgeon, Mr Byrne became the first person in North Queensland to have a groundbreaking oesophageal cancer surgery.
The 73-year-old spent more than 14 hours in the operating theatre during the life-threatening procedure, known as invasive Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy surgery, which involved removing a 4cm tumour at the junction between his oesophagus and stomach.
His remarkable recovery has stunned his family, friends and much of the Townsville Private Hospital staff.
“It will take a little while before full recovery, but I am optimistic of getting there and certainly the prognosis is that I will,” he said.
“I am very happy where I am considering what I’ve gone through.
“I couldn’t have done it without my surgeon, he was absolutely brilliant.”
Enter Dr Scott Whiting, the former Cowboys lock who played 15 NRL games before becoming an internationally recognised bariatric and metabolic surgeon.
He met with Mr Byrne after his diagnosis in October and the pair enjoyed an instant rapport and connection.
“It is difficult to describe but I immediately felt confident that I would have the best shot at a positive outcome with the team that Scott would assemble,” Mr Byrne said.
“He impressed me immediately and carefully explained the process and the type of surgery that would be involved.”
Ever the professional sportsman, Dr Whiting used long-held football analogies to galvanise Team Byrne for what was a marathon, highly complex operation.
Using specialist training he received in the United Kingdom from the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, the two stage procedure involved removing the lower oesophagus and top of the stomach, where the tumour was, including draining lymph nodes.
Despite the risks, Mr Byrne said he felt “at ease” by his doctor.
“Scott was adamant we could beat this cancer as a team,” he said.
“His team were so encouraging, so positive and professional.”
Remarkably, Mr Byrne was out of hospital within a week and back at work in Cairns after another week.
Dr Whiting said the minimally invasive procedure meant a faster recovery.
“Recovering from incisions can take many months,” he said.
“With a minimally invasive approach we can get most patients home in about one week with significantly less pain medication and a lower infection rate.”
Dr Whiting is no stranger to the Far North, having been raised on the Atherton Tablelands before moving to Townsville for school.
He has shown himself to be a man of many talents on his way to becoming a lifesaving surgeon.
In addition to a scholarship with the Cowboys and eventual NRL player, he has tried his steady hand at a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science at JCU and mentored young inmates at the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre.
He completed his medical studies at the University of Notre Dame in Fremantle before learning the surgical skills performed on Mr Byrne at the renowned European unit in Norfolk and Norwich, specialising in minimally invasive upper gastrointestinal cancer surgery.
Executive officer of the Private Hospital Townsville, Libbie Linley, said thousands of Far North Queenslanders stood to benefit from the training Dr Whiting had received and the successful surgery.
“This is a great outcome for patients who no longer have to travel out of North Queensland for the procedure, and they can feel confident receiving the highest possible standard of care in Townsville,” he said.
“Only one of a handful of hospitals across Australia offer this procedure.”
Mr Byrne said not having to get on a plane to receive the specialist care was a victory for all residents of North Queensland.
“Being able to travel from Cairns to Townsville to have this done is amazing,” he said.
“Otherwise, I would have had to travel to Brisbane and spend a lot more time recovering in hospital.
“This has been my biggest health scare by a country mile.
“My quality of life has been improved and my prognosis is a lot better now that I’ve had this surgery.”
And despite the magnitude of his ordeal, the well-known and respected Cairns man said he was honoured to have shared in the experience.
“It’s strange, when it was all done I did say to myself that it has been a privilege for me to see this, and be involved in something so important,” he said.
“It was a privilege to see them all up close and personal.”
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