A California mother of two has undergone a historic robotic mastectomy, a procedure that utilizes a $2 million robot named Carol to remove breast cancer with minimal scarring and a swift recovery. Vicky Pan, 46, received the groundbreaking treatment at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland after being diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive form that had spread to her lymph nodes.
The robotic single-port mastectomy, the first performed in the U.S. outside of clinical trials, aims to preserve the nipple and skin, significantly reducing changes to appearance and accelerating recovery times. Dr. Rita Kwan-Feinberg, who performed the surgery, explained that the procedure involves a small incision, about the size of a paper clip, through which all necessary tools are inserted. The robot, controlled entirely by the surgeon, provides enhanced 3D vision, allowing for precise dissection of cancerous tissue.
"I can literally see small little vessels pulsating," Kwan-Feinberg said. "I can see the blood flowing through those vessels because the magnification is so high and the detail is so great." This accuracy is crucial in a mastectomy to ensure complete removal of cancerous tissue without damaging the surrounding skin, which can lead to tissue death.
The Da Vinci SP Surgical System, which received FDA clearance for nipple-sparing mastectomy procedures in December, has been used internationally with success. Surgeons and operating room staff undergo rigorous training to master the system, which is also cleared for urology, colorectal, and thoracic surgeries. The robot itself is named Carol in honor of the wife of the donor who helped fund its acquisition by the medical center.
For Pan, the procedure offered a way to minimize the physical and emotional toll of cancer treatment. "Anything that can help minimize the loss, anything that can help me retain some form of identity, I think is like a type of mercy," she told KTVU. She reported a smooth recovery with minimal pain and was able to go on a beach getaway three weeks after the surgery. While she continues chemotherapy and immunotherapy to prevent recurrence and will require reconstructive surgery, Pan expressed gratitude for her survival and a newfound appreciation for life.
"I feel grateful for being a cancer survivor… All my priorities have shifted and I just appreciate everything more," she said. "I don’t take tomorrow for granted, and I’m more present for my family."