Cancer Surgery
For many people with cancer, surgery is a vital part of their treatment--one that can speed their recovery and improve their chances for a healthy future. However, cancer surgeries can be extremely complex, so it’s important that patients find a surgeon and hospital they trust.
At the University of Chicago Hospitals, our surgeons and surgical support staff recognize how cancer surgery can impact a patient and his or her family. We’re always striving to provide the safest, most proven procedures to treat tumors--and many of our surgeons are considered national experts on cancer surgery. In fact, U.S. News & World Report regularly ranks our cancer program among the top in the nation--the highest ranked of any hospital in Illinois.
One area, in particular, where our surgeons have made an important impact on cancer treatment is through minimally invasive surgery. Minimally invasive surgery is the practice of performing surgical procedures through tiny cuts rather than long incisions. Whenever possible, surgeons at the University of Chicago Hospitals use minimally invasive techniques to diagnose and treat many types of cancer--including gastrointestinal, lung, and prostate cancers. Minimally invasive surgery is an effective approach for removing some cancerous tumors and lymph nodes. What’s more, it spares the patient from unnecessary tissue damage, pain, and scarring.
Our surgeons are also using minimally invasive techniques to collect tissue for biopsy and to perform accurate "staging" studies to determine the best cancer treatment plan. In some cases, University of Chicago surgeons use a state-of-the-art robotic device to assist with minimally invasive cancer operations. The robot can help surgeons operate even more quickly and precisely, and make surgery less disruptive for the patient.
