Surgery

In many cases, surgically removing a tumor is the most effective means of treating cancer. Surgery also can be used in combination with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Surgeons in El Camino Health’s cancer program treat a wide range of cancers. Several of our surgical experts have fellowship training in specific types of cancer. These subspecialists put their skills and knowledge to work for you in treating urologic cancers (including prostate), gynecologic cancers and pancreatic cancer.

Whatever your situation, our surgical team will treat you with warmth and compassion. In nearly every case, a doctor can see you for a first visit within 48 hours. Our attentiveness continues throughout your treatment, as we do our utmost to make you comfortable and at ease. The doctors are always accessible if you have a concern.

Our cancer program’s five-year survival rates for breast, colon, prostate and lung cancers demonstrate results better than national benchmarks. Our aggressive approach to treating cancer and relentless pursuit of answers means we’ll give you the best possible chance of surviving at any stage of cancer

El Camino Health offers a full range of surgical options.

Minimally Invasive (Laparoscopic) Surgery

Our doctors perform laparoscopic surgery using small incisions of an inch or less. They insert a small scope with a camera and thin surgical instruments and thread them to the tumor site. The camera creates sharp images on a television screen to guide doctors as they remove a tumor.

Advantages of minimally invasive surgery over traditional open surgery include:

• Significantly less pain.
• Less blood loss and scarring.
• Shorter recovery time.
• A faster return to normal daily activities.

Robotic-Assisted Surgery

Robotic-assisted surgery, a type of minimally invasive surgery, allows surgeons to get to hard-to-reach areas to remove tumors. El Camino Health has the highest number of robotic-assisted surgeries in Northern California and the Bay Area.

This means we bring you unmatched experience and skill in robotic-assisted procedures to remove cancer from the uterus, prostate, lung, kidney and other organs. In fact, our highly respected doctors often provide robotic training for surgeons from other medical centers.

We use the da Vinci® Si Surgical System, which allows our surgeons to work from a console to view 3-D, high-definition images of internal structures and direct small robotic instruments to perform complex and delicate procedures.

Advantages of robotic-assisted surgery are the same as those listed above for minimally invasive surgery.

Open Surgery

At El Camino Health, we always use the least invasive procedure available to achieve the best possible results. At times, you may require an open procedure. In every case, we evaluate all options and recommend the treatment likely to bring you the best results.