U.S. Surgeon Performs 1st Robotic Breast Cancer Removal, Completing 16 More Without Complications
Updated
Updated · KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco · Jun 24
U.S. Surgeon Performs 1st Robotic Breast Cancer Removal, Completing 16 More Without Complications
3 articles · Updated · KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco · Jun 24
Summary
March 9 marked the first U.S. robotic single-port nipple-sparing mastectomy, with Oakland surgeon Rita Kwan-Feinberg removing an aggressive tumor from 46-year-old Vicky Pan through a small hidden incision.
Months of training in Abu Dhabi and operating-room rehearsals enabled Kwan-Feinberg to use a console-controlled robot to preserve more breast tissue and sensation while limiting scarring and recovery time.
Three weeks after surgery, Pan was well enough for a beach vacation; she is now in remission and continuing preventive chemotherapy, immunotherapy and one final reconstructive procedure.
Since Pan’s operation, Kwan-Feinberg has completed 16 more such surgeries on 10 patients, with 3 more scheduled, giving her what Sutter says is the highest U.S. volume so far with no complications.
January donor funding for the single-port robotic system helped launch a procedure still rarely performed outside U.S. clinical trials, pointing to a broader shift in breast-cancer surgery options.
This robotic surgery offers fewer scars but has a longer operation time. Is this advanced procedure a practical option for most patients?
A single donation funded this medical first. How can such breakthroughs become accessible to all patients, not just a select few?
U.S. Breakthrough: 17 Robotic Nipple-Sparing Mastectomies Performed with No Complications—Impacts, Evidence, and Access
Overview
In March 2026, Dr. Rita Kwan-Feinberg performed the first robotic single-port nipple-sparing mastectomy (rNSM) outside of a clinical trial in the U.S., marking a new era for less invasive breast cancer surgery. This breakthrough offered patients potential benefits in recovery and cosmetic outcomes. Dr. Kwan-Feinberg quickly expanded the use of rNSM, performing 16 more procedures on 10 patients, all without reported complications. Her swift integration of this technique into clinical practice highlights both its safety and effectiveness, positioning her as a leading surgeon and demonstrating the immediate positive impact of rNSM for patients.