When his doctor delivered the bad news John Velekkakan knew he needed to act fast. Diagnosed with colon cancer, John needed surgery but had options.

"My choice was either open the traditional way of removing or go to the robotic surgery,” said John Velekkakan, colon cancer patient.

It’s called the Da Vinci Surgical System, a multimillion dollar machine that allowed John's doctor to cut out a large tumor without actually doing the cutting.

"And the instrument takes my movements and transfers them to the proper tools inside to do the cutting and sealing of blood vessels,” said Dr. Stephen Rauh, Rochester General Hospital.

Dr. Stephen Rauh is pioneer in robotic surgery. In 2003, he began trading in his scalpel for a remote control.

"It was and remains a virtual unknown,” said Rauh.

Rauh says using high definition cameras, three-dimensional imaging, and precision controls makes his job easier.

"What the robotic revolution has allowed is greater degrees of freedom, greater reach and all through much smaller access incisions,” said Rauh.

This technique is more time consuming but Rauh says the results are better.

Gary Pickard underwent the procedure earlier this year.

"Your body's readjusting to the surgery, so I do a week to week thing and every week I feel stronger and better than the week before,” said Gary Pickard, colon cancer patient.

Just 14 weeks after surgery, he's well on his way to a full recovery.

"I would have a hard time touching and feeling where the incisions because there's no tenderness,” said Pickard.

While no one wants colon cancer, it's good to have some high tech choices.

'I think I’m much more at peace with the decision knowing that it has to be done. There are no other alternatives. There’s no medicine that will cure it,” said Velekkakan.