Learn why da Vinci® Surgery may be your best treatment option for early stage gynecologic cancer
A wide variety of gynecologic cancers can affect a woman’s reproductive system, which consists of the uterus, vagina, ovaries and fallopian tubes. The uterus is a hollow, muscular organ that holds a baby as it grows inside a pregnant woman. The fallopian tubes and ovaries are located on either side of the uterus. The most common types of gynecologic cancers are cervical, endometrial (uterine) and ovarian cancer. The specific type of cancer a woman has and how advanced it is, will determine her available treatment options. Women with early stage gynecologic cancer are often treated with hysterectomy - the surgical removal of the uterus. In this procedure, the doctor may also remove the ovaries, fallopian tubes and/or select lymph nodes. Hysterectomy is the second most common surgical procedure for women in the United States, and an estimated one third of all U.S. women will have a hysterectomy by age 60.
If you have a gynecologic cancer - such as cancer of the uterus or cervix - hysterectomy may be your best treatment option. The type of hysterectomy you have will depend upon your medical history and health, as well as the extent of the cancer growth. Traditional hysterectomies for gynecologic cancers are performed via open abdominal surgery, requiring a long vertical incision (from the pubic bone to just above the navel). Open abdominal hysterectomy can be painful for patients, involving heavy medications, risk of infection and significant blood loss during surgery. After surgery, a long recovery (typically 6 weeks) is necessary. In addition, many patients are not happy with the scar left by the incision.
While hysterectomy is a relatively safe procedure, it may not be appropriate or necessary for all individuals or conditions. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits.
If your doctor recommends hysterectomy, you may be a candidate for an innovative, less invasive surgical procedure called da Vinci Hysterectomy. This procedure uses a state-of-the-art surgical system designed to help your doctor perform the most precise and least invasive hysterectomy available today. For most women, da Vinci Hysterectomy offers numerous potential benefits over traditional surgical approaches, including:
As with any surgery, these benefits cannot be guaranteed, as surgery is patient- and procedure-specific.
