Brain tumour patient back home hours after surgery at Sheffield Hallamshire Hospital

Michelle Steers
Michelle Steers was left with a small scar following her four-hour surgery. Credit: Sheffield Teaching Hospitals

A mum who went home within hours of having pioneering brain surgery said it was "like having a tooth pulled".

Michelle Steers, 55, was discharged shortly after a craniotomy to remove a tumour at Sheffield’s Royal Hallamshire Hospital in August.

She said: “I’m back to normal now, I’ve had no pain and I’m building up my strength again.

"It’s like I’ve never had a brain tumour – I can’t even see the scar, it’s so tiny, and they didn’t even have to shave my head due to the surgical technique they used. The operation was fantastic – it was like having a tooth pulled."

Ms Steers was diagnosed with meningioma, a common brain tumour, in December last year after having constant headaches, earache and speech problems.

She knew she would have to give up her job as a bus driver if she went through with surgery, but said she "couldn't carry on as I was".

The four-hour operation, which involves removing a small part of the skull to take out the tumour, typically needs patients to stay in hospital for up to four days after surgery.

But Ms Steers, from Rotherham, said she was “ecstatic” to be back home 12 hours after leaving theatre.

"I was up and about, and they said it was safe to discharge me home," she said. "I can’t tell you how good it’s been. It’s been absolutely brilliant.”

The theatre team who carried out the operation. Credit: Sheffield Teaching Hospitals

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust performs around 200 brain tumour surgeries a year.

It is thought to be only the second trust, after Southampton, to have discharged a brain surgery patient on the same day.

Consultant neurosurgeon Veejay Bagga said: “Removing even the simplest of tumours in and around the brain has risks, but everything went as planned and there were no complications.

"The tumour was in a favourable position and Michelle was fit and well going into the surgery, meaning that with the right support and counselling both before and after surgery we were able to mobilise her early and get her home on the same day." Ms Steers added that she has started to look for work again, including in the NHS.

"I’m so grateful to the team,” she said.

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