187: The Relaxback UK Show with Mike Dilke - Episode 187187: The Relaxback UK Show with Mike Dilke - Episode 187
UK Health Radio Podcast
Medical specialists and advocates talk through radiofrequency ablation for painful spinal tumours and a project turning baby scans into tactile 3D models. The conversation links pain relief, independence and accessibility for people living with serious illness or visual impairment.
43:06•20 Oct 2026
Heating Tumours, Feeling Babies: Pain Relief and Pregnancy Made More Accessible
Episode Overview
- Radiofrequency ablation heats tumour tissue to around 70°C through a small electrode, killing cancer cells in a tightly controlled zone.
- For painful spinal metastases, combining ablation with bone cement can significantly reduce pain and lower fracture risk in already weakened bones.
- These spinal procedures are often done as day cases under conscious sedation, with patients typically tolerating them well and going home the same day.
- RFA is usually used alongside chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery, offering an extra option without blocking other treatments.
- The First Hello project converts 20-week ultrasound scans into 3D tactile models so visually impaired parents and relatives can physically feel their baby’s features and share in the milestone.
“If you can feel something that’s very special, that’s yours… everybody else can see just a flat image, but you can actually feel this 3D image, build this picture in your head.”
Experience the emotional and inspiring tales of recovery as this Relaxback UK Show episode brings together cutting-edge medicine and deeply human stories. Host Mike Dilk first chats with Dr David Mckean, a spine interventional specialist, about radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for spinal tumours. In plain, almost kitchen-table language, Dr Mckean explains how a tiny electrode “essentially…heating up tissues” can “cook” tumour cells from the inside while keeping the treatment area tightly controlled.
You’ll hear how patients often face terrible, stubborn pain despite opiates and radiotherapy, and how combining RFA with bone-strengthening cement can bring “really profound” relief, often as a day-case procedure under conscious sedation. The conversation stays grounded and practical: Mike asks the questions most people are quietly thinking, like whether patients feel the heat, how big the needles are, and whether this is a cure or a way to make life more bearable.
Dr Mckean stresses that RFA usually supports, rather than replaces, conventional cancer treatments, yet can sometimes be part of long-term success stories. The second half shifts tone but keeps the focus on dignity and inclusion. Dr Amit Patel, a visually impaired former doctor, and Kerry Bevan from Guide Dogs talk about First Hello, a project that turns 20-week ultrasound scans into 3D tactile models for visually impaired parents and loved ones.
Amit’s account of finally “feeling” his son’s scan image 10 years on is both moving and gently humorous, especially when his daughter declares, “that’s definitely my brother because his ears are bigger than mine.” Kerry highlights how much of pregnancy is still built around sight-based information, while Amit shows how tactile tech, simple adaptations and better communication can stop visually impaired parents being “on the sideline”.
If you care about pain relief, patient choice and truly inclusive healthcare, this one might get you thinking: what would a more accessible health system look like for everyone?
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.