Stralsund: Removal of lung cancer using the da Vinci surgical robot
Sometimes life is incredibly unfair. Grit Otto-Moritz had already been through a great deal. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013, and ten years later she faced a recurrence. She fought her way through the therapies and overcame both. That should have been enough for one lifetime. But in October 2025, during a follow-up examination with her gynecologist, the next shock came. This time it was not the breast. A computed tomography scan revealed abnormalities in the right lung. Further examinations confirmed the diagnosis: lung cancer. The decision was made quickly. “The main thing is to get it out,” she said firmly.
The clinic offers the highest quality
At Helios Hanseklinikum Stralsund, thoracic surgery has a long tradition and provides demonstrably high quality. The department offers a broad range of procedures, including highly complex lung resections, and meets all legal requirements, including the mandated minimum case numbers for this type of intervention. The medical team uses state-of-the-art surgical technology and has been performing operations with the DaVinci XI surgical robot for more than three years, with experience from hundreds of procedures.
Just a few weeks later, thoracic surgeons removed the two-centimeter tumor using robotic surgery.
“Overall, the procedure was free of complications, and we were able to completely remove the affected tissue with the help of the surgical robot, above all while preserving the lung as much as possible,” explains Dr. Hussein Abdallah, Senior Consultant in Surgery.
Use of state-of-the-art surgical technology
The DaVinci system provides the surgeon with a high-resolution, three-dimensional view of the surgical field, significantly magnified visualization, and extremely precise, finely controlled instruments. Even the smallest structures can be treated with millimeter accuracy. For patients, this means smaller incisions, less blood loss, reduced postoperative pain, and faster recovery.
Grit Otto-Moritz also benefited from these advantages. Despite the highly complex procedure, after which patients previously would have remained in the hospital for about two weeks, she was able to leave the hospital after just four days.
“I had heard about it, but I didn’t really know how the surgical robot works. I trusted the doctors completely and felt safe at all times,” she reports. She says she is incredibly grateful to the clinic. “The entire staff was helpful, friendly, and highly competent.” For her, one thing is clear: it is not necessarily required to travel far to receive the best treatment. “Why would you, when we have such excellent surgeons and such professional care here in Stralsund?” She wants to share her experience to encourage other patients.
The treatment of her lung cancer has been completed successfully. But at the beginning of this year, another shock followed: the “old” breast cancer had spread and formed bone metastases. Treatment must continue. The 60-year-old is now receiving hormone therapy outside the hospital setting.
Full of confidence heading into further treatment
Because of her illness, Grit Otto-Moritz consciously took time out to rest. She spent Christmas in the Harz mountains, where she was able to recover and regain strength. By her side are her husband and a close circle of friends. “Without this support network, many things would be much harder,” she says. That is why she faces further treatment with confidence. “I have already defeated cancer once, and I know I can do it again.” Her life, she says, has always been a struggle. Perhaps, she adds with a slight smile, it also has something to do with her zodiac sign, Taurus — steadfast, combative, and unwilling to give up.
Grit Otto-Moritz is incredibly grateful that there are professionals who are there in the face of such serious illnesses. “We have so many excellent doctors and nurses here who saved my life. I will never forget that,” she says, looking ahead to her continued therapy with confidence.
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