In a medical first in the UK, doctors performed a rare and high-risk operation that involved removing a pregnant woman’s womb, treating her ovarian cancer, and then returning the unborn baby to her womb—all before delivering the child safely at full term.
This complex five-hour surgery saved both the life of Lucy Isaac, a 32-year-old teacher from Oxford, and her unborn son Rafferty, who was born in late January weighing 6lb 5oz (approximately 2.9 kg).
It Began With a Shocking Diagnosis
At just 12 weeks pregnant, Lucy received devastating news after a routine ultrasound — doctors found signs of ovarian cancer. With the disease posing a threat to her life, doctors at John Radcliffe Hospital warned that delaying treatment could allow the cancer to spread.
But traditional surgery was not possible due to her pregnancy’s progression. That’s when Dr Soleymani Majd, a leading surgeon, proposed a rare and bold alternative: remove the womb with the fetus inside, treat the cancer, and reinsert it.
A Medical Team of 15, A Womb Outside the Body for Two Hours
- The operation took place in October, with a 15-member medical team assisting Dr Majd.
- Lucy’s womb, still containing her unborn baby, was carefully removed and placed in a warm saline pack to preserve temperature and blood flow.
- Two medics continuously monitored the womb, changing the saline every 20 minutes.
- Doctors successfully removed the cancerous tissue, identified as grade two ovarian cancer.
- After the procedure, Lucy’s womb was gently repositioned into her body and her abdomen stitched back.
The womb was outside her body for two hours, the longest such case Dr Majd has ever undertaken.
A Joyful Birth, A Grateful Family
Three months later, Rafferty was born healthy, marking a second “birth” — first when he briefly left the womb during surgery, and again when he was delivered in January.
Lucy and her husband Adam, who had undergone a kidney transplant in 2022, described the birth as deeply emotional.
“To finally hold Rafferty in our arms after everything we have been through was the most amazing moment,” said Adam.
The couple returned to the hospital to thank Dr Majd, who described the experience as rare and deeply emotional.
The Bigger Picture: Ovarian Cancer’s Silent Threat
Lucy had no symptoms before her diagnosis. Her case highlights the silent nature of ovarian cancer, which affects 7,000 women in the UK annually. Two-thirds of cases are diagnosed at late stages, leading to over 4,000 deaths each year.
Lucy said she feels “incredibly lucky” — both for her diagnosis and for receiving life-saving care in time.
