Cancer surgery

Surgery is often the optimal first treatment for many types of cancer, especially early stage or tumors that are contained to one area. It may also be used in combination with radiation therapy and/or medical therapy as part of a personalized treatment plan.

Advocate Cancer Institute is home to some of the most skilled cancer surgeons in the region – many who are specially trained in the latest minimally invasive techniques and technology. Your surgeon will work closely with you and your cancer care team to find the right procedure, and provide education and support at every step.

Find an Advocate Cancer Institute near you.

Advanced techniques for optimal outcomes

In addition to performing traditional cancer surgeries, Advocate surgeons specialize in newer, cutting-edge options that can improve outcomes and quality of life. Specialties include:

• Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC): An innovative way of delivering chemotherapy during a surgery. The HIPEC procedure starts when a surgeon removes all visible tumors. Before closing the incision, a heated chemotherapy agent is put into the abdomen and allowed to stay for an hour or more to treat cancer cells that are too small to be visible. The chemo drug is then drained and the incision is closed.
• da Vinci® robotic surgery: This highly sophisticated technology allows our surgeons to perform a variety of cancer surgeries with better precision and less incision. Common robotic procedures include cystectomy (bladder cancer surgery), prostatectomy (prostate cancer surgery) and partial nephrectomy (kidney cancer surgery) – all of which often produce less pain and scarring, fewer complications and quicker recovery.
• Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS): An advanced, incision-free procedure that creates highly detailed images of the digestive tract to detect and stage tumors too small to be seen by CT or MRI scans. It can also be used to help relieve painful symptoms of cancer.
• Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS): A minimally invasive lung cancer treatment where a tiny camera is inserted into the chest to guide your surgeon in removing tumors. Because VATS only uses a few small incisions, patients often experience an easier and faster recovery.
• Ileal neobladder reconstruction: Helps restore normal urinary function for patients following cancer surgery for bladder cancer.

Personalized rehabilitation

Following cancer surgery, our cancer rehabilitation program can help ensure a smooth healing process. We offer specialized support services to meet your needs, including lymphedema therapy to help manage the painful swelling that sometime occurs when lymph nodes are removed during cancer surgery.