Barbara Ricalzone wasn’t experiencing any symptoms or problems when she was diagnosed with endometrial cancer last year. But because of her family history, her cancer diagnosis wasn’t exactly a surprise.

“My mother had 12 brothers and sisters and probably eight of them died from different forms of cancer,” says Ricalzone.

That’s why Ricalzone has always been vigilant about her health. She’s been coming to the UConn Health Center for years, never missing her annual check-ups. When she received her cancer diagnosis, she was also proactive about researching various treatment options and knew she wanted her cancer removed via robotic-assisted surgery.

“I asked Dr. Kueck if she was familiar with the da Vinci surgery and she said yes, so I was thrilled because that meant a faster recovery,” explains Ricalzone.

Gynecologic oncologist Angela Kueck with the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center says, “Barbara specifically came here because we had the robotic surgery. She was looking for that.”

Robotic-assisted surgery is becoming the standard surgical treatment option for patients suffering from a variety of conditions and diseases, including certain types of cancer. Patients spend fewer days in the hospital, less time recovering, and, in most cases, are left with just a few small scars.

Ricalzone says she experienced very little pain and was able to go home the day after the surgery.  Less than two weeks later she was back to her normal activities.

Kueck says since Ricalzone’s cancer was caught in its early stages, her prognosis is very good.

“I’m just thankful for the treatment that I received. It was excellent,” adds Ricalzone.

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