Sarah Thomas didn¿t have time for cervical cancer. A buyer for an industrial fabrication company, this mother of two active young boys was also physically active herself. In fact, she was in the middle of a high-intensity fitness challenge in early 2006 when a routine Pap smear revealed cervical cancer.

Sarah¿s gynecologist referred her to UAB gynecologic oncologist Warner K. Huh, M.D., who performed a cone biopsy and confirmed the diagnosis of early invasive cervical cancer. He recommended a radical hysterectomy, removing her uterus and cervix.

Sarah had two main goals: thorough treatment of her cancer and a quick recovery from her surgery. ¿Our family leads a full, active life, so being able to get back to my normal routine quickly was a priority for me,¿ she says.   

Dr. Huh offered her the option of a da Vinci laparoscopic hysterectomy. This minimally invasive procedure is performed through tiny incisions with the aid of a surgical robot controlled by a surgeon. UAB was the first hospital in Alabama to use the da Vinci system for gynecologic cancer surgery.

¿My husband had some concerns initially,¿ Sarah says, ¿but Dr. Huh was very thorough in addressing each one and making us both feel comfortable.¿ She spent time on the Internet thoroughly researching cervical cancer, radical hysterectomy, and the da Vinci procedure; she says the research gave her a sense of control and helped her cope with her diagnosis. Ultimately, Sarah decided to have the revolutionary surgery.

Dr. Huh performed the da Vinci procedure in June 2006. Sarah spent just over a day in the hospital. ¿My surgery was at 8 a.m., and I was home by lunchtime the following day,¿ she says. ¿When I first woke up after the surgery, I did have some mild discomfort. But the pain was very manageable. By that evening, I was already taking walks down the hallway in the hospital.¿ Within a week, she was working from home, limited only by a catheter that she was able to remove herself after six days. ¿Everything went fine, and I had no problems,¿ she says. ¿Once the catheter was removed, I was able to do most of my routine activities.¿ Within two weeks, Sarah was back in the office¿and physically active again, swimming, training, and playing with her sons.

The pathology report following her surgery showed that the cancer hadn¿t spread beyond her cervix. She required no further treatment and was able to return to her job, her active lifestyle, and her family.

¿For me, the da Vinci procedure was definitely the right choice,¿ Sarah says. ¿I received the surgery I needed and was able to get back to my normal routine very quickly. I¿m grateful the option was available to me.¿