Local Columnist, Store Owner and Celtic Enthusiast
Jack Fights Prostate Cancer With Robotic Surgery
When it comes to staying healthy, timely and quality treatment is essential. For Jack B., a Villa Park resident, frequent and thorough evaluation by Dr. Derek Kelly, a family medicine physician and a part of the medical staff at Swedish Hospital, has benefited him time and time again. Most recently, Dr. Kelly’s attention to detail saved Jack’s life by catching signs of prostate cancer during a routine examination.
Swedish Hospital is located in one of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in the country and the hospital’s medical staff is composed of expert practitioners from all over the world. Culture is important to Jack, who contributes a column titled “Piping It In” to the Irish American News and owns Rampant Lion Celtic Traders, a store dedicated to Celtic music. He found a friend as well as a physician in Dr. Kelly, who went to medical school and completed two residencies in Dublin, Ireland before returning to Chicago to practice medicine at Swedish Hospital.
“He’s been busy making my life better ever since,” said Jack. “He keeps an eye on my blood, which is how he found out I’m diabetic, and he monitors my prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, which is how he discovered I had prostate cancer.”
Noting the elevated PSA levels, Dr. Kelly referred Jack to
Dr. Alan Chernoff, a board certified urologist and part of the medical staff at Swedish Hospital who specializes in
robotic surgery, utilizing the third generation
da Vinci Xi robotic surgery system as part of the robotics surgery program at Swedish Hospital.
The da Vinci technology allows for single site surgery, enabling doctors to perform a number of surgeries through a single incision. Surgeons guide flexible instruments through the incision using a remote camera, resulting in better outcomes for patients through reductions in trauma, blood loss, and risk of infection, post-operative pain and average length of stay.
“He led me through the testing process, which verified Dr. Kelly’s prognosis,” said Jack. “Soon after, Dr. Chernoff used his skill with the da Vinci robotic surgery system to remove my prostate.”
Jack’s surgery was a success, as was his stay at Swedish Hospital. “I want to thank the staff for helping me through this pretty scary time," he said. "I am eternally grateful.”
Jack has remained cancer free, and continues to see Dr. Kelly for regular check-ups. To read Jacks original article, please visit the
November 2015 issue of Irish American News, on the 27th page.
Derek Kelly, M.D., is a board-certified family medicine physician. He currently serves as vice president of medical education at Swedish Hospital and as associate clinical dean at St Georges, University of London. He has 37 years of experience.
Allen M. Chernoff, M.D., is a board-certified urologist. His specialties include robotic surgery, urologic oncology and urology. He has 15 years of experience.
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By David Modica | Published December 16, 2015
