Surgery may be the treatment of choice for a cancer that appears to be contained to one area. Whether done on an inpatient or outpatient basis, often surgery represents the greatest chance of a cure for some types of cancer. Radiation or chemotherapy may also be used in conjunction with surgery. At Good Shepherd, surgeons work closely with medical and radiation oncologists to develop the best treatment plan for each patient.
Surgical Specialties
Cancer surgery requires special expertise and at Good Shepherd Hospital, the expertise is provided by board-certified surgeons who specialize in these surgical practices:
- Gynecologic
- Breast
- General surgery
- Head and neck
- Thoracic
- Urologic
Click here to see a list of Good Shepherd surgeons
da Vinci Robotic Surgery
Good Shepherd Hospital is one of only a few hospitals in the northwest suburbs with the da Vinci robot. At Good Shepherd, urologists frequently use the da Vinvi robot to treat prostate cancer patients. This high-tech equipment enables surgeons to perform less-invasive procedures that dramatically shorten post-operative lengths of stay, speed recovery and reduce the risks of side effects.
Breast Surgery
For breast cancer patients, surgery may involve a mastectomy or lumpectomy. Patients may also require lymph node removal. Sentinel node biopsy helps surgeons determine if the breast cancer has spread to the lymphatics and extent of the spread.
Ostomy Surgery
Patients with colon, bowel or bladder cancer may require ostomy surgery. Good Shepherd Hospital has certified ostomy/wound consultants on staff to help with stoma care before and after discharge. |
