Diana's Robotic Hysterectomy Patient Story

I never thought I’d be so excited to return to the gym! But today, I’m on my feet and doing all of the things I treasure, like canvassing the mall with my friends and reconquering the treadmill. You’d never guess that just a few short months ago, I was diagnosed with stage I uterine cancer and underwent a complete hysterectomy. 

The Diagnosis
My friends and family will tell you that I was the last person they expected to be diagnosed with cancer — I was relatively young, 62 years old (and everyone says I look 52), went to the gym faithfully, watched my weight and what I ate and got annual checkups from my doctor. I’m living proof that the “picture of health” isn’t always accurate. 

In June 2008, my doctor found atypical cells during my annual Pap smear, and after undergoing a biopsy, I was diagnosed with uterine cancer. That’s when I was referred to Dr. Afshin Bahador at Sharp Mary Birch, who explained my diagnosis and laid out a personalized plan for my treatment. I really appreciated Dr. Bahador’s positive attitude and the amount of time he devoted to talking with me and making me feel as comfortable as possible about the steps that lay ahead. 

He recommended using da Vinci® robotic-assisted surgery for the hysterectomy because it involves only a few small incisions and would minimize my discomfort and shorten the amount of time I would need to be in the hospital recuperating. Being as active as I am, I really liked the idea of having a faster recovery, and after researching the surgery on the Internet and reading about the positive experiences other women had, I gave Dr. Bahador the green light for the minimally invasive surgery. 

The Procedure
I was eager to move forward with the surgery because I obviously wanted to be rid of the disease and get on with my life. I was confident that my recovery would be quick, but deep down, I had some doubt about other patients’ claims that they were back on their feet within 24 hours. 

To my pleasant surprise, the claims were true. Thanks to Dr. Bahador, my surgery went very smoothly and I had very little pain. I didn’t take any prescription-strength pain medication at the hospital — in fact, all I needed was ibuprofen for the next few days. 

I had my surgery on a Monday and on Friday I went shopping with my friend for hours. She commented that she was getting tired from strolling the mall and was surprised that I didn’t need a break. And a week later, I was already back to work. My co-workers were amazed how quickly I bounced back from the surgery.

Because the da Vinci surgery was so precise, I had no external bleeding and the incisions were only three-quarters of an inch wide. I didn’t have much swelling in my abdomen and was able to fit into my regular clothes within a few days. Just as important as the quick physical recovery, I was really glad to get back to my routine so quickly. For those in need of a hysterectomy for any reason, I would highly recommend the da Vinci surgery and Sharp Mary Birch. 

How to Choose a da Vinci Specialist at Sharp
Sharp accepts almost all health insurance. For help finding a surgeon who specializes in robotic surgery or to schedule a consultation, call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. 

To learn more about Sharp's robotic surgery services or to find a Sharp-affiliated doctor, search for a San Diego OBGYN or  call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. For general information about gynecological cancer, please read Gynecological Cancers in Adult Health.