WOMAN UNDERGOES FIRST EVER SINGLE PORT NIPPLE SPARING MASTECTOMY PERFORMED BY ROBOT

PEOPLE

 

Woman, 45, Underwent the First Robotic Single-Port Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy Performed in the U.S by a Robot Named Carol

By Erin Clack  Published on July 11, 2026 07:00AM EDT

 

One year after receiving a devastating cancer diagnosis, Vicky Pan became part of medical history.

 

Pan, a 45-year-old mother of two young sons, was doing a routine self-exam when she discovered a lump in her breast. She was diagnosed with aggressive, fast-growing triple-negative breast cancer that had already spread to her lymph nodes, according to Sutter Health.

 

For Pan, the news was overwhelming as she faced a terrifying prognosis and fears about what her diagnosis would mean for her family.

 

Then, on March 9, her outlook changed thanks to a robot named Carol. Following grueling rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, Pan underwent the first robotic single-port nipple-sparing mastectomy performed in the United States outside of clinical trials.

 

The procedure was done at the Oakland, Calif., campus of Sutter’s Alta Bates Summit Medical Center by Rita Kwan-Feinberg, M.D., MPH, FACS, a Sutter East Bay Medical Group breast cancer and robotic surgeon with specialized training. Dr. Kwan-Feinberg was assisted by Carol, a da Vinci SP robot donated by a grieving husband, Peter Read, who lost his wife, Carol Ann, to breast cancer.

 

According to Sutter, the single-port robotic surgical system “enables surgery through a single, small incision, enhancing precision, minimizing visible scarring and supporting a more patient-centered recovery experience.” Pan’s cancer was removed with “such microscopic precision that [her] body remained largely unchanged.”

 

“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,” said Pan, who had already lost her hair and physical strength to chemo.

 

“This procedure is about much more than just technology and restoring physical appearance,” Dr. Kwan-Feinberg said. “It reflects a commitment to care that addresses both medical needs and emotional well-being. By minimizing visible scarring and offering the potential to preserve nipple sensation and reduce complications such as skin and nipple tissue death, while supporting body image and dignity, single-port robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy embodies Sutter’s whole-person approach to breast cancer care.”

 

Following the procedure, Pan had a remarkably quick and smooth recovery. She was on a beach, enjoying time with her family, just three weeks later. She is currently in remission and continuing her immunotherapy treatments.

 

The robotic platform has received FDA clearance for use in nipple‑sparing mastectomies and is still being evaluated for long-term outcomes, per Sutter.

 

The Northern California-based healthcare company said the innovative surgical procedure reflects the integration of advanced technology with patient-centered care that addresses both the physical and emotional healing for breast cancer patients.

 

“This is what whole-person care looks like in action,” said Jill Foley, M.D., Women’s Health Service Line Chair at Sutter Health. “We can become so focused on treating disease that we forget how profoundly these procedures affect a woman’s sense of self. Innovations like this allow us to address both the physical and emotional realities of breast cancer.”

 

Read, whose transformative financial gift enabled the purchase of the robot technology, was on-site when Carol was delivered to Alta Bates Summit and the Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center, named in honor of his late wife. He said the moment fulfilled “a lifelong dream.”

 

“Helping Dr. Kwan-Feinberg and the entire team bring this remarkable equipment to Sutter Health — and ensuring our community is the first in the region to benefit from these advanced treatments — has been an incredibly meaningful journey,” Read shared.