Robot-Assisted Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy Makes US Milestone
A California mom with triple-negative breast cancer underwent the United States’ first robotic single-port nipple-sparing mastectomy outside clinical trials, using a $2 million Da Vinci SP robot named Carol at Sutter Health’s Alta Bates Summit Medical Center. The procedure preserves the nipple and skin through a tiny initial incision and 3D magnified vision, with the surgeon in full control. The FDA has cleared the robot for nipple-sparing mastectomies, signaling broader adoption as more centers train. Pan is now in remission but continues chemotherapy and immunotherapy to prevent recurrence and will need reconstructive surgery, marking a hopeful milestone in cancer care and surgical technology.
