Maharashtra's first robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy (RNSM) with TiLoop reconstruction surgery was performed by Dr Sandip Bipte, breast surgeon at Apollo Cancer Centre, recently. The surgery was performed on a 43-year-old woman who was diagnosed with right breast cancer last year. Genetic testing revealed that she had a 80% risk of developing cancer in her left breast also.
Dr Bipte said both mastectomy surgery and breast reconstruction were done the same day with just a small incision and the patient was discharged the following day. He told newspersons that the key advantages of RNSM included "preservation of skin and nipple maintaining a natural breast appearance, no visible scars on the breast, better sensory preservation compared to conventional mastectomy, minimally invasive approach resulting in faster healing and no need for additional donor site surgery."
Dr Jayanti Thumi, lead and robotic surgeon - breast oncology, Apollo Cancer Centre, Bengaluru, who was the first doctor to perform RNSM in the country, said the use of new technology has given hope to women diagnosed with breast cancer. She said already 15 such robotic surgeries have been performed at her hospital. Dr Suresh Advani, senior oncologist, said ``Robotic surgery elevated the standards of treatment while prioritising the dignity and emotional resilience of patients."
