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The robotic approach is not a lways t he best approach. It comes dow n to understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the robot as compared to other minimally invasive techniques." Dr. Knight offers minimally invasive staging procedures to determine the extent of cancer spread in the pelvis. He also performs radical hysterectomy for cer vical and endometrial cancer and offers surgical treatment of fibroid tumors and ovarian and vaginal cancer. A lt hough he a nd h is collea g ues of ten use a multi-incision robotic- assisted approach for these surgeries, Dr. K n ight is a lso ex per ienced in single-site robotic-assisted surgery, a virtually scarless single-incision tech- nique reportedly offered by very few surgeons nationwide. For patients who are not good candidates for the robotic approach, Dr. K night may instead choose single-incision or multi-port laparoscopy. "A good craftsman picks the right tool for the right job," he says. Although he recommends that all suspected cancer cases be handled by an oncologist to avoid a second surgery if cancer is found, about 40 percent of Dr. Knight's tumor cases turn out to be benign. Often, the women with these tumors can a lso benefit from robotic-assisted surger y or another minimally invasive option. "Some c a ses I do t h at t u r n out not to be cancer still require such a high degree of surgica l complexit y that having a subspecialized surgeon is helpf ul," says Dr. K night. These might include women who have had multiple surgeries and are likely to have dense sca r tissue, those w ith severe endometriosis, or those who are significantly overweight. He points out that, in these cases, the surgery may be long and intense. While a surgeon's energy and endurance may be taxed, Dr. Knight says the robot's performa nce remains optima l over time, resulting in better outcomes for patients and a more positive experience for the surgeon. More Minimally Invasive Options for Cancer Surgery To address the surgical needs of both women and men with cancer, Fairview has recently welcomed Jane Wey, MD, a Cleveland Clinic surgical oncologist with expertise in robotic and other minimally invasive options. A graduate of the University of Ca lifornia San Diego School of Medicine, Dr. Wey did her General Surgery residency at the University of California Davis Medical Center a nd completed a Su rg ic a l Oncology fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Since joining Cleveland Clinic in 2012, Dr. Wey has specialized in treat- ing cancer of the upper gastrointestinal tract including pancreatic, gastric and liver cancers. She is also experienced in the treatment of rare sof t tissue sarcomas in the abdomen and skin cancers. As she grows her practice at Fairview, Dr. Wey plans to offer more involved minimally invasive abdominal surgeries such as pancreatic and liver resections, as well as lapa roscopic removal of stomach tumors and lymph node biopsies, partial gastrectomies and distal pancreatectomies. "For certain gastrointestinal tumors and for biopsies, we can often do sur- gery with the laparoscope," she says. "This may reduce the recover y time in the hospital by up to a day. There are also potentially fewer hernias or wound infections, and patients are happier because t he incisions a re smaller." Dr. Wey says the lack of scar tissue created by a minimally invasive technique can also be an advantage later for patients who are likely to need a second operation. A lthough she is new to Fa ir view Hospital, Dr. Wey says it is clear that the hospital is well-equipped to meet the needs of the west side. "The OR staff is excellent and they have the technolog y in place," says Dr. Wey. "The nurses are also very good, which is critical." By investing in advanced surgical equipment and expanding its team of surgeons with expertise in robotic- assisted and laparoscopic techniques, Fairview Hospital is positioning itself as a leader in minimally invasive sur- geries. By opting for surgical care at Fairview, patients living on the west side a re closer to their homes a nd families. They are also closer to their primary care doctors, reducing stress and ensuring continuity of care. " We a re able to of fer some ver y advanced procedures at Fairview, but with the added advantage of a ver y 'homey' environment," says Dr. Orady, who adds that she enjoys knowing all of the nurses with whom she works at Fairview. "It is just very personal here." " The litmus test for good cancer care is providers and patients that are communicating effectively with each other," agrees Dr. Knight. "I realized early on that that was the case here. At Fairview, we have a team spirit that I think goes beyond what is required. Providers understand that time is life for these patients and are willing to move mountains to get people treated." For more information about robotic- assisted and other minimally invasive surgery options at Fairview Hospital, visit fair viewhospital.org/surger y. To refer a patient, call Medline at 1-866-733-6363. ■ Jane Wey, MD 2 0 1 4 M A R C H /A P R I L ■ M D N E W S . CO M ■ MD NEWS Cleveland/Akron/Canton | 2 5