Patient Resources
Education and Preparation for Cancer Treatment
A cancer diagnosis often raises practical questions about treatment planning, surgery, recovery, and supportive care. Patients and families frequently want to understand what lies ahead — from the role of surgery within a broader treatment plan to the steps involved in preparing for an operation and recovering afterward.
The resources below provide clear, practical information to help you navigate each stage of care, including guidance on preparing for surgery, understanding recovery, and accessing trusted educational materials related to gastrointestinal and hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) cancers.
These materials complement the condition-specific information in the Conditions section and reflect the same multidisciplinary, evidence-based approach used in clinical care.
If you are looking for information about a specific diagnosis, please visit the Conditions section for detailed overviews of pancreatic, liver, bile duct, stomach, esophageal, colorectal, and other gastrointestinal cancers.
Cancer Education and Treatment Planning
A curated library of trusted, guideline-based educational resources and practical guidance related to cancer diagnosis, treatment planning, surgery preparation, recovery, nutrition, emotional support, and survivorship.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cancer Surgery
Answers to commonly asked questions about consultations, second opinions, treatment planning, surgery, recovery, and multidisciplinary cancer care.
Robotic and Minimally Invasive Surgical Approaches
Some patients wish to better understand how advanced minimally invasive and robotic techniques are used in complex gastrointestinal and hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgery. These pages explain the role of robotic platforms in cancer surgery and include a video library illustrating selected surgical techniques.
Robotic Surgery →
Surgical Video Library →
Consultation and Second Opinion Requests
Patients with pancreatic, liver, bile duct, stomach, esophageal, and complex gastrointestinal cancers may benefit from consultation with a surgical oncologist early in the treatment planning process.
Careful review of imaging, pathology, and prior treatment history helps determine whether surgery, systemic therapy, or staged multidisciplinary treatment offers the most appropriate strategy.
Consultations and second opinions are welcome at any stage of diagnosis or treatment planning.
Request a Consultation or Second Opinion →
Secure Patient Portal
If you are currently receiving care within the Sutter Health system, you may use the secure patient portal to message your care team, review test results, and manage appointments.