MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. -- For those who need surgery to treat dangerous kidney tumors and cancers, receiving life-changing care shouldn't have to mean extended hospital stays followed by weeks of recovery before returning to daily routines. Thanks to the innovative robot-assisted surgeries available at Northern Westchester Hospital, it doesn't have to."We use the da Vinci Robotic System ...

MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. -- After undergoing intestinal surgery, returning to everyday life may depend on how quickly the surgical wound heals. Some patients, like Mort Axelrod, must adjust to life with a stoma. But thanks to The Wound Care Center at Northern Westchester Hospital, they don't need to adapt alone.A stoma is a medical incision, usually made in the abdomen, which allows for the ...

MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. -- After most invasive medical procedures, rest is crucial to making a full recovery. But what happens when despite best efforts, surgical wounds don't heal properly or need extra attention? That's where the doctors and staff at Northern Westchester Hospital's Wound Care Clinic come in.Following treatment for colorectal cancer, Mort knew he needed specialized wound ...

MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. -- Don't let their smoke-free composition or playful flavors fool you: electronic cigarettes and vapes are dangerous products.These electronic smoking gadgets were originally developed as safer nicotine delivery devices for those trying to kick cigarettes. "If you’re an adult who hasn’t found success with smoking cessation programs, I would rather you vape than ...

MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. -- While undergoing cancer treatment, handling the rigors of everyday life can be challenging. So when Jennifer, a breast cancer patient at the Cancer Health and Wellness Program at Northern Westchester Hospital, first began her treatment, she knew she'd need the help of a team."When I first found out that I was going to need radiation therapy, my first concern ...

MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. -- From skiing and hiking to mountain biking and organized sports, Scott was used to living an active lifestyle. However, after a lingering high school sport injury gradually reduced his knee's mobility, he decided that giving up his hobbies just wasn't an option."Following a high school athletic injury, the right half of my right knee degraded and I did not want ...

MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. -- For many Parkinson's disease patients, the first signs of development are subtle: a slight tremor or a small twitch in the extremities. However, as the neurological disorder progresses, maintaining a normal lifestyle while combating "the great shrinking disease" can be challenging."Your voice gets smaller, your handwriting gets smaller and your ...

MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. -- For Mary “Edie” Meeks, an operating room nurse at Northern Westchester Hospital and a Beacon, N.Y. resident, the battlefields of Vietnam held unimaginable pain.Serving as a 1st Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps in Saigon and Pleiku, Vietnam from July 1968 to July 1969, Meeks experienced a side of the conflict few saw.Meeks, who grew up in Minnesota during the ...

MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. -- For those struggling with weight issues, obesity is more than just a physical problem.“I’ve been heavy since I was a little kid," said Sharon, a patient at Northern Westchester Hospital. "People perceive you differently [when you're obese], they stare at you." In addition to dealing with the stigma associated with being overweight, Sharon's health ...

MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. -- After learning that he was on his way to developing a potentially life-threatening condition, David knew it was time to make a lifestyle change."I was diagnosed as a pre-diabetic and realized I had to do something about it," said David, a patient at Northern Westchester Hospital. Pre-diabetes is a condition in which elevated blood sugar levels, raised ...