If you’d like to discuss any symptoms or concerns with Mr Bille, or you’d just like a second opinion, you can call, email or book an appointment here.
Mr Andrea Bille
Conditions
Learn more about the wide range of conditions that Mr Bille commonly treats.
Early stage and advanced lung cancer
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. It starts as a growth of cells in your lungs. Over 43,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer every year in the UK alone, and it’s one of the most serious types of the disease.
Mr Bille is here to provide expert diagnosis, personalised treatment and ongoing management and care for your condition. If you receive a lung cancer diagnosis, he has over two decades’ experience and extensive specialist skills to help deliver the best possible outcomes for you.
While people who’ve never smoked can get lung cancer, smoking is what puts you at the greatest risk of developing the disease. That risk increases the longer you smoke and the more cigarettes you consume.
Even if you’ve smoked for many years, quitting will significantly lower your chances of developing lung cancer or other cardiovascular and respiratory conditions.
Early-stage lung cancer is typically symptomless. As the disease advances, you may notice:
- A new and persistent cough
- Coughing up blood (even a small amount needs investigation)
- Chest aches or pain
- Wheezing and shortness of breath
If you start losing weight without trying to or notice a loss of appetite, bone pain, headaches or a swelling in your face or neck it can be a sign that lung cancer has spread to other parts of your body.
If you have any worrying symptoms you’d like to get checked out, just get in touch. Mr Bille is here to listen and offer you expert support.
Thymoma
Thymoma is a rare type of cancerous tumour that starts in your thymus gland, which sits just behind the breastbone in your chest. The tumour often grows slowly, and it’s sometimes linked to the development of an autoimmune disease called myasthenia gravis (MG), which causes muscle weakness and fatigue.
This kind of tumour is often diagnosed by accident during scans for other conditions, and it can be treated with surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy or sometimes a combination of all. Mr Bille has the specialist skills to accurately diagnose this condition and provide the most appropriate treatment, working with a dedicated multidisciplinary team to discuss the best options for you. In many cases, even in advanced situations, surgery can be a key part of your treatment.
The exact causes of thymoma are unknown, but some studies suggest a potential link to lifestyle factors such as smoking. You’re more likely to develop it in your 30s and 40s, and cases peak again with patients who are in their 70s.
Many people with thymoma have no early symptoms and their tumour is often found when they’re having imaging tests for other reasons. Some people with thymoma also have autoimmune diseases, such as myasthenia gravis (MG).
If you have thymoma, you may also develop:
- Persistent chest pain
- A chronic cough
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty swallowing
- A hoarse voice
- Swelling of your face or arms
If you have any worrying symptoms you’d like to get expertly checked, do get in touch.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a cancer that starts as a growth of cells in the mesothelium, which is a thin layer of tissue covering many of your internal organs. Pronounced mee-zo-thee-lee-o-ma, it most often occurs in the tissue around your lungs, known as pleural mesothelioma.
It’s a fast-growing form of cancer. While mesothelioma isn’t curable in many cases, treatments can help to improve your quality of life and prolong your survival. If you’re living with the disease, Mr Bille can give you the tailored clinical support and advice you need.
Signs of mesothelioma can depend on where your cancer starts. Pleural mesothelioma affects the tissue around your lungs, so you may experience symptoms such as:
- Chest pain and painful coughing
- Shortness of breath caused by fluid on your lung (pleural effusion)
- Lumps under your chest skin
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
If you have any symptoms that worry you, make an appointment with Mr Bille and he can help you understand your condition and any possible treatment.
If you develop mesothelioma, it’s likely that you’ve been exposed to significant levels of asbestos at some point in your life, probably in your working environment. You may have had a high level of exposure for just a few months, such as working on a short-term construction job or more long-term, low-level exposure. Either can put you at high risk of developing the disease, and sometimes there can be a gap of over 40 years between when you were first exposed to asbestos and your symptoms emerging.
Metastatic cancer
When a cancer spreads from its original site to another part of the body, it’s known as metastatic cancer, and the spreading process is called metastasis. It happens when breakaway cancer cells from your primary cancer travel through your bloodstream or lymphatic system to other parts of your body and form new tumours there.
These new tumours will be composed of the same type of cancer cells as the primary tumour, and this affects how we name them. For example, if bowel cancer spreads into your lung, it would be called metastatic colorectal cancer.
There are many types of cancer that can spread into your lung, including bowel cancer, breast cancer, melanoma and prostate cancer.
There’s a whole range of risk factors for metastatic cancer, and not all of them are in your control, such as your genetics, family history and age. A higher initial cancer stage and the specific characteristics of your tumour can also increase your risk.
Lifestyle choices such as smoking and alcohol can also put you at higher risk, as can environmental exposures and obesity.
The symptoms you experience will vary depending on where the cancer has spread to, but fatigue and unexplained weight loss are usually warning signs. You may also have specific symptoms such as a persistent cough and shortness of breath, jaundice or abdominal swelling, bone pain or fractures and headaches or seizures.
Lesions on your lungs are frequently detected during follow-up treatments or tests for primary cancer elsewhere in your body. If the spread of that cancer is limited to your lungs, surgery to remove the metastases can be considered.
If you have any concerning symptoms or would just like a check-up, please make an appointment with Mr Bille. He’ll be happy to help.
Thoracic endometriosis
This is an extremely rare condition in which endometrial tissue that responds to the menstrual cycle grows in your chest cavity, most often on your lungs or diaphragm. It can sometimes lead to lung collapse (catamenial pneumothorax). Unfortunately, it’s also a very subtle condition, meaning it can easily be overlooked and delay you getting an accurate diagnosis.
Mr Bille specialises in identifying and treating thoracic endometriosis using robotic surgery.
Endometrial tissue growing in your chest cavity can cause difficult symptoms such as cyclical chest pain and shortness of breath. You may also cough up blood, or sometimes you can develop a lung collapse.
If you have any concerning symptoms or would just like a check-up, please make an appointment with Mr Bille. He’s here to help and may treat you as part of a multidisciplinary team that deals with complex cases of endometriosis involving your bowel, bladder or pelvis.
The main risk factor for thoracic endometriosis is having a personal history of pelvic endometriosis or a family history of the condition. If you’ve had uterine cavity surgery in the past, this can also increase your risk.
Women who started their periods early, have shorter menstrual cycles and longer periods or have never given birth are also at an increased risk.
Chest wall trauma
A chest wall trauma is an injury caused by any impact that damages your chest's bones, muscles or cartilage. It can leave you with issues such as bruising or a fractured sternum or ribs. At its worst, you can sustain something called a flail chest. This is a severe injury in which part of your chest wall breaks in several places.
Contact sports, falls and car accidents are common causes, although any impact that injures your chest can be a risk. That includes a forceful cough, especially one you’ve had for a while.
If you sustained an impact injury on your chest and get chest pain that worsens with breathing, coughing or movement, then you may have chest wall trauma.
For peace of mind and to investigate any symptoms, please make an appointment with Mr Bille.
Pneumothorax
The more common name for pneumothorax is a collapsed lung. It happens when air leaks into the space between your lung and chest wall, called the pleural cavity. That puts pressure on the outside of your lung, causing it to partially or fully collapse.
If you smoke or have an underlying lung condition such as COPD, cystic fibrosis or tuberculosis, then you’re at greater risk of a collapsed lung. People who are tall and thin are also more likely to develop it, and it’s more common in men. In fact, tall, thin young men are most at risk.
Other risk factors include chest trauma, certain medical procedures and genetic disorders such as Marfan syndrome.
Any of the following could be a sign that you have a collapsed lung:
- Stabbing chest pain that worsens when breathing in
- Bluish skin caused by a lack of oxygen in patients with COPD
- A dry, hacking cough
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Rapid breathing and heartbeat
If you’re concerned about any symptoms or feel like a check-up could help, Mr Bille is here for you.
Pleural space infection (empyema)
A pleural space infection or empyema is a very serious chest infection. Pus collects in your pleural space, which is the cavity between your lungs and your chest wall. If you develop empyema, you’ll need expert support and urgent antibiotic treatment. You may also need drainage to prevent complications.
Empyema often starts when you have pneumonia or another lung infection, but it can also be caused by chest trauma or chest surgery.
Any of the following could be a sign that you have a pleural space infection:
- Sharp chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- A bad cough
- Fever and chills
You can make an appointment with Mr Bille if you’d like to discuss any symptoms or get a general lung health check-up. Just get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.
Benign and malignant pleural effusion
There are two types of pleural effusion: benign and malignant. Both happen when there’s a build-up of fluid in your pleural space, between your lungs and chest wall.
The benign type is non-cancerous, whereas malignant pleural effusion is cancer-related and needs expert treatment. Mr Bille will diagnose your condition by assessing whether your fluid is transudate (produced by increased pressure) or exudate (produced by inflammation or obstruction). He’ll do this using imaging such as CT scans and ultrasound to look for signs of pleural thickening or nodules that could suggest cancer.
- Benign effusions have a whole range of causes, including congestive heart failure, pneumonia or pulmonary embolism. Infections, collagen, vascular diseases, post-surgical complications or certain drugs can also cause it.
- Malignant effusions are often caused by lung cancer or metastasis, which is the spread of cancer from elsewhere in your body to the lining around your lungs.
Benign and malignant pleural effusions both share common symptoms. The greater the fluid build-up, the more severe your symptoms are.
Those symptoms can include:
- Shortness of breath
- A dry cough
- Chest pain that worsens with deep breaths or coughing
A malignant effusion can also cause other symptoms such as fever, unexplained weight loss and fatigue. The fluid may also be bloody.
Mr Bille can help assess your symptoms, perform diagnostic tests and advise on the best treatment, if needed. In many cases, surgery is the best way to get a tissue diagnosis and prevent the effusion from reaccumulating by performing a pleurodesis.
You can make an appointment at any time by getting in touch with us.
Airway conditions
Airway conditions are respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis. They can all affect your airways through inflammation, narrowing or excessive mucus build-up. More serious conditions, including cystic fibrosis and lung cancer, can also cause similar symptoms or airway problems.
Smoking, air pollution and occupational or environmental exposure to dust, fumes and chemicals can all cause airway conditions, as can infections and allergies. You may also have specific genetic conditions or a family history of respiratory issues.
Common symptoms include wheezing and shortness of breath, which can be triggered by physical activity or happen while you’re at rest. Some people describe the symptoms as like trying to breathe through a straw.
You may also develop:
- A productive cough
- Chest tightness or pressure
- A sore throat
- A stuffy or runny nose
- High temperature or fever
- Headaches and muscle aches
- Fatigue
If you’re concerned that you may have an airway condition, or about your lung health in general, Mr Bille can help. If a narrowing of your airways is discovered, a surgical procedure may be the best form of treatment.
Emphysema
Emphysema is a progressive lung condition that’s a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Healthy lungs have many small air sacs called alveoli, which are elastic. Emphysema damages your alveoli, which makes them less elastic, and this can lead to air trapping in your lungs. That makes it more difficult for you to exhale completely.
The leading cause of emphysema is smoking. Long-term exposure to air pollutants, chemical fumes and dust can also be contributing factors. Indoor pollution and irritants such as wood smoke, cooking fumes and second-hand smoke can also increase your risk.
The main symptom is being short of breath, especially during physical activity. You may also develop:
- Shortness of breath
- A chronic cough, often with phlegm or mucus
- A wheezing, whistling or squeaky sound when you breathe
- Chest tightness
- Frequent chest infections
- More severe symptoms such as: fatigue, weight loss, blue lips or nail beds
- Problems with sleep
In specific cases, surgery (removal of the non-functioning part of your lung) or placement of an endobronchial valve may help to control and improve your symptoms.
If you’re worried you may have emphysema or you’re concerned about any aspect of your lung health, make an appointment with Mr Bille.
Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating)
Hyperhidrosis causes you to sweat excessively and well beyond what’s needed to regulate your body temperature. It usually occurs in specific areas such as your armpits, hands, feet, face or groin or sometimes it can affect your entire body.
It’s often caused by overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system that controls your sweat glands, and it can lead to difficulty with daily activities and cause social embarrassment, which can affect your confidence and quality of life. Mr Bille can help.
If you have primary hyperhidrosis, you’re likely to have a family history of it, for example, a parent or sibling who sweats heavily. If that’s the case, your symptoms may well have begun in childhood or during your adolescence.
If you have an overactive thyroid or diabetes, you may develop a condition called secondary hyperhidrosis. Hormonal changes, stress, anxiety and some medications may also bring on the condition, while triggers such as spicy food and warm temperatures can make it worse.
It’s normal to sweat on a hot day or when you exercise, but if you have hyperhidrosis, you’ll have excessive, noticeable sweating that goes beyond your usual levels.
Symptoms include:
- Visible dripping sweat
- Wet or clammy hands and feet
- Soaked clothing
- Related skin problems, such as infections or peeling
Mr Bille has extensive expertise treating this condition. If you’re worried about symptoms or you’d like to discuss potential treatment options, including minimally invasive surgery, we can help.
Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS)
Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a range of conditions that all cause increased pressure in the blood vessels or nerves between your neck and shoulder. This area is known as your thoracic outlet, and treatment often involves physical therapy and pain relief. Most people improve with these treatments, but occasionally, surgery may be recommended to decompress those structures by removing part of your ribs. Mr Bille can advise on the best way forward for you.
If you have thoracic outlet syndrome, it’s probably caused by physical trauma. It could be from a car accident, a repetitive strain injury from your job or a hobby or from playing a contact sport. Being pregnant can also cause the strain to develop.
However, TOS can sometimes simply be a natural difference in your anatomy, such as an extra rib or another physical anomaly. Whatever the cause, Mr Bille can help.
The compression of the blood vessels and nerves in your thoracic outlet can leave you with shoulder and neck pain, as well as causing weakness in your arm and numbness in your fingers.
If you’ve suffered a trauma or have been living with some concerning and unexplained symptoms, make an appointment with Mr Bille. He can give you his expert view and suggest the best way forward.
Slipped rib syndrome and rib fractures
Slipped rib syndrome is a rare condition. It happens when the cartilage supporting your lower ribs becomes hypermobile and slips. This can irritate the related intercostal nerve, leaving you in pain. Mr Bille can help to quickly diagnose and treat your condition.
He can also help if you’ve fractured one or more of your ribs, for example in an accident or playing a contact sport.Those fractures can be very painful, and Mr Bille can support you in managing your pain and achieving the fastest possible recovery. If your situation requires surgical treatment, Mr Bille can guide you through the process and explain the best technique to fix the issue.
If you have slipped rib syndrome, you may have had a localised trauma from an injury or contact sport or a series of smaller repetitive injuries caused by physical activity.
If you have a rib fracture, the causes can be more varied and complex, including osteoporosis or cancer, although you can fracture ribs in a significant blunt or traumatic injury, a fall or even with a severe bout of coughing.
The symptoms of slipped rib syndrome include:
- Sharp pains in your upper abdomen or chest that can come and go
- A slipping, clicking or popping in your lower ribs
- Pain that worsens with bending, lifting, coughing or deep breathing
- A dull ache
The symptoms of rib fractures include:
- Difficulty taking deep breaths
- Bruising, swelling or a visible deformity at the site of your fracture
- Sharp pain that hurts more when you breathe, cough or move
Mr Bille can examine you, diagnose your condition and get you on the path to effective treatment. Get in touch to make an appointment.