Focusing on You: Head and Neck Cancer Patients Benefit From Robotic Surgery

Transoral robotic surgery is helping patients recover faster, in many cases eliminating the need for radiation or chemotherapy.

TRANSCRIPTION

Bruce Hunter:
A few months ago, I was diagnosed with Stage I HPV throat cancer.

Narrator:
When Bruce Hunter was named man of the year for the American Cancer Society’s Wine and Spirits Gala, he had no idea he would be speaking as a cancer survivor.

Bruce Hunter:
I was very lucky and very blessed that they did find it.

Narrator:
Bruce went to see Dr. Giovana Thomas, a head and neck oncologic surgeon at Sylvester and director of the robotic surgery program for the department of otolaryngology at UHealth. She offered Bruce a minimally invasive procedure.

Dr. Giovana Thomas:
Basically what it is, is a technique that we use to access very difficult areas in the throat that is not easily accessible without having to split the jaw or split the lip.

Narrator:
This prevents the possibility of scarring for the patient.

Dr. Giovana Thomas:
The robotic surgery, through the mouth avoids all of those disfiguring procedures that required also much time for the patients to heal from and to regain your swallowing function.

Narrator:
Transoral robotic surgery means a faster recovery for patients often eliminating the need for further therapies.

Dr. Giovana Thomas:
The patient may avoid any additional treatment that may consist of radiation and/or chemotherapy. And we know that less treatment for the patient means less side effects.

Narrator:
Dr. Thomas successfully removed the tumor on Bruce’s tonsil.

Bruce Hunter:
I was in surgery for a few hours and I came out, and three days later I was home.

Dr. Giovana Thomas:
He did not require any additional treatments.

Narrator:
One month later, Bruce was speaking at the cancer gala thanks to robotic technology and the entire UHealth team.

Bruce Hunter:
They did a wonderful job through the surgery and especially with robotic surgery, which really was a lifesaver.

Tags: Dr. Giovana Thomas, head and neck cancers, HPV, robotic surgery, throat cancer