Meticulous, efficient, professional – these words easily describe Findlay Lake resident, Linda Warnshuis. These qualities served her well as an organizer of a nationwide tour golf event and again when she was diagnosed with endometrial cancer.

She is as detailed-oriented and proactive about her health as she is about her livelihood. During a routine annual physical, Linda’s gynecologist found something suspicious, but numerous follow-up tests, including biopsies and sonograms were inconclusive.

A pragmatic health care consumer, Linda decided to call Roswell Park. Additional diagnostic tests resulted in a diagnosis of endometrial cancer – a cancer of the lining of the uterus. Surgery often cures this type of cancer, but Linda decided to take the matter one step further. Her surgeon offered – and she agreed – to become one of the first patients at Roswell Park to have her endometrial cancer removed with the assistance of a surgical robot.

“It was wonderful,” Linda recalls. “I went into pre-op at 6 am and was out of surgery by 1 pm. There was very little pain and the nurses had me up and walking right away. That afternoon, I watched the hockey playoffs and was discharged the next day from the hospital.”

Roswell Park is one of the few hospitals in the country to use a surgical robot to assist with endometrial cancer surgery. The robotic-assisted surgery enables surgeons to perform procedures more precisely and the benefits for patients over traditional surgery include shorter hospital stays, faster recoveries as well as the ability to avoid a large incision.

Linda’s cancer was diagnosed early so her doctor did not recommend additional treatments with radiation or chemotherapy. In fact, a few short weeks later, Linda was back out on the golf course, managing a nationally televised golf tournament at Peek’n Peak Resort & Spa, which was carried out flawlessly.

“I am not sure what it is about Roswell Park, but everyone you meet is friendly, comforting and compassionate. I never thought I would say this about a cancer diagnosis, but under the circumstances, it was a great experience,” Linda added.

Linda’s message of hope for the holidays: “Be proactive about your health. Never hesitate to seek out the best and newest treatments and believe in the power of prayer for it will sustain you in good and bad times.”