-Specialised oncosurgeon performed minimally invasive breast removal using robotic surgery

Navi Mumbai : Apollo Hospitals today announced the successful treatment of a patient with breast cancer. The patient underwent robotic assisted nipple-sparing mastectomy followed by immediate breast reconstruction. The patient, aged 53 years, who had been diagnosed with invasive breast carcinoma recovered uneventfully and was discharged the next day after surgery itself. The procedure involved removal of the breast tumour through a small incision while preserving the natural look of the breast, and reconstructing it in the same operation.

The patient had first felt a lump in her right breast few weeks ago. When she came to Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai, an initial mammogram and ultrasound revealed a suspicious lesion, and the biopsy confirmed invasive carcinoma of the breast. The diagnosis had meant that surgical intervention was required.

Routine open mastectomy is associated with large scars and can cause pressure changes on the skin flap and cause delayed recovery. The procedure offered to our patient was robotic assisted nipple sparing mastectomy. A radical mastectomy was performed to remove the breast tissue. This was done through a small incision, robotic instruments were used to carefully dissect and remove all breast tissue.

Using a silicone implant and Acellular Dermal Matrix (ADM), a biological scaffold material, the breast was reconstructed restoring shape and symmetry. The ADM provides support for the implant and allows for natural breast contour .

Instead of waking up with complete breast loss, the patient woke up with her breast shape preserved, maintaining her body image, self-esteem and confidence. The minimally invasive approach reduces scarring, protects arm movement, and helps patients return to normal life faster – both physically and emotionally.

Dr. Nita Nair, Lead Consultant, Breast and Robotic Surgery, Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai said, “The goal of the robotic assisted nipple-sparing mastectomy is to remove the cancer completely and allow for smaller scars and faster recovery. The reconstruction allows us to help women with good body image and emotional recovery.  In this case, we were able to remove all the disease, preserve the nipple and skin & rebuild the breast in the same surgery. Because the sentinel lymph node was negative we could also avoid more extensive axillary surgery. She was comfortable and her surgical wound was healthy at discharge. The patient had an uneventful recovery post-surgery..”

Mr. Arunesh Punetha, Regional CEO Western Region, Apollo Hospitals said, “With early diagnosis, precise surgery, and immediate reconstruction can make a big difference. While traditional open mastectomy with reconstruction typically requires 3-5 days hospitalization with significant post-operative pain, the robotic surgery leads to less surgical trauma, reduced pain, minimal blood loss and a faster return to normal life. Our multidisciplinary teams encompassing specialists in oncology, anaesthesia, nursing and rehabilitation all work together so that treatment is not only effective, but also less intimidating for patients and families. At Apollo Hospitals, we encourage women to follow regular screening advice and consult a specialist promptly if they notice any change in the breast. They need not fear as modern medicine and surgery can treat cancer while preserving appearance and confidence!” Compared to conventional mastectomy, this minimally invasive approach with immediate reconstruction offers multiple advantages. Complete cancer removal is achieved with small incisions of 3-4 cm as compared to traditional 8-10cm scars. Patients experience reduced surgical trauma with less tissue damage and blood loss. Immediate reconstruction eliminates the psychological trauma of breast loss and need for multiple surgeries. Recovery is faster and patients report lower pain levels allowing earlier return to normal activities. The approach is suitable for early breast cancer patients with tumors located away from the nipple and no skin involvement. Careful patient selection and advanced pre-operative imaging ensure optimal outcomes.