Patients with lung cancer in the past usually had only one surgical treatment option: a complicated procedure with a long, painful recovery and many times limited results. Today, Baptist Health System is leading the way in San Antonio by investing in less invasive surgical technology, enabling doctors to develop innovative treatment and care programs that give lung cancer patients new hope for a brighter future.

"The mission of the Baptist Health System and the Baptist Cancer Center is to be our community and region's chosen provider of state of the art cancer care," says surgical oncologist Morton Kahlenberg, M.D., Medical Director of the Baptist Cancer Center. "Baptist has acquired some of the most advanced, proven technologies and this allows for skilled physicians to provide care that can achieve the best possible outcomes. Baptist is committed to excellence in patient care and the mission of the Baptist Cancer Center is evidence of this." The treatment of lung cancer is a prime example of the Baptist commitment.

Dr. Francisco Rodriguez IV, M.D., is among only a few physicians in South Texas able to provide a revolutionary form of surgery for lung patients by utilizing da Vinci robotic surgery technology. "The robotic technology at Baptist allows me to perform a less invasive surgery in the chest, which is an enormous advantage for my patients," says Dr. Rodriguez, who is Board certified in both, Cardiothoracic and General Surgery. "The technology gives doctors better vision and extraordinary precision and control in the operating room, and that leads to the best possible results for the patient." Baptist Health System was the first in San Antonio and South Texas to offer da Vinci robotic technology in surgery and this is available at various Baptist locations throughout the city. In addition to select thoracic procedures, robotic procedures have been performed by various physicians for gynecologic, urologic (prostate), colorectal and abdominal diseases. When performed as an alternative to traditional surgery, which typically requires the opening of a body cavity such as the abdomen or chest, patients are able to resume their regular activities much faster due to: