Saint Mary's Health Care Robotics

Cancerous Hysterectomy

A da Vinci Hysterectomy for cancer

If your doctor recommends a hysterectomy for the treatment of uterine or ovarian cancer, you may be a candidate for a da Vinci Hysterectomy, one of the most effective, least invasive treatment options for a range of uterine conditions.


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 a hysterectomy - the surgical removal of the uterus. Surgery remains the accepted and most effective treatment option for a range of gynecologic conditions. 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 US. and an estimated one third of all U.S. women will have a hysterectomy by age 60.

 



For most patients, a da Vinci Hysterectomy can offer numerous potential benefits over traditional approaches to vaginal, laparoscopic or open abdominal hysterectomy, particularly when performing more challenging procedures like radical hysterectomy. Unlike vaginal and laparoscopic hysterectomies (where surgeons are often challenged with small working spaces and potentially diminished views of pelvic organs), as well as conventional open hysterectomies which require a large abdominal incision of 6 to 8 inches in order to see and remove organs, a da Vinci hysterectomy provides 3D visualization and fine tissue-manipulation capabilities. This way, the surgeon can not only see internal structures more clearly, but they are afforded more accuracy and control.

Potential benefits include:

  • Shorter hospital stay
  • Less pain
  • Less risk of infection
  • Less blood loss and transfusions
  • Less scarring
  • Faster recovery
  • Quicker return to normal activities

A da Vinci Hysterectomy also allows your surgeon better visualization of anatomy, which is especially critical when working around delicate and confined structures like the bladder. This means that surgeons have a distinct advantage when performing a complex, radical hysterectomy involving adhesions from prior pelvic surgery or non-localized cancer, or an abdominal hysterectomy. 

As with any surgery, these benefits cannot be guaranteed, as surgery is both patient- and procedure-specific. While a radical hysterectomy or an abdominal hysterectomy performed using the da Vinci® Surgical System are considered safe and effective, these procedures may not be appropriate for every individual. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits.

 

Physician Expertise

 

The Lacks Cancer Center at Saint Mary’s is equipped with the state-of-the-art da Vinci® Surgical System. In fact, Saint Mary's gynecologic oncologist, Dr. Kevin Brader, performed the first robotic gynecologic cancer surgery in West Michigan. Since then, he has performed over 300 procedures – more than any other gynecologic oncologist in the state of Michigan.

If you are a candidate for a hysterectomy, talk to a gynecologist or call The Lacks Cancer Center at Saint Mary’s at
616-685-LACKS (5225) or visit The Lacks Cancer Center website to learn more about available treatment options.