India's First Lady Surgeon Trained In Robotic Breast Surgery Leads Karnataka's First Robotic Nipple Sparing Mastectomy

Cancer care in Karnataka reached a new milestone as Apollo Cancer Centre (ACC) in Bengaluru successfully conducted the state's inaugural Robotic Nipple Sparing Mastectomy (RNSM), spearheaded by Dr Jayanti Thumsi, the country's pioneering female surgeon trained in Robotic Breast Surgery, the hospital informed in a press statement on Wednesday.

The RNSM procedure, a fusion of robotic technology with advanced breast cancer treatment, marked a significant advancement in combating breast cancer, which notably affects young women, constituting 48 per cent of cases in India.

Under Dr Thumsi's guidance, the surgery was performed on two patients: 28-year-old  Lalitha Sridhar and 52-year-old  Aarthi Sekhara, both experiencing different stages and types of breast cancer.

Sridhar's case highlighted the efficacy of RNSM in treating multi-centric disease and DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma in situ), while  Sekhara, diagnosed with aggressive Triple Negative Breast Cancer, benefited from the procedure following immunotherapy and chemotherapy.

This innovative technique, characterised by minimal scarring, expedited recovery, and enhanced cosmetic outcomes, offers patients a renewed sense of hope and quality of life compared to traditional mastectomy methods.

Dr Thumsi emphasised, "Our focus extends beyond cancer clearance to ensuring a high quality of life for patients. RNSM not only tackles the disease but also preserves femininity and emotional well-being."

Dr Vishwanath S, Senior Consultant in Medical Oncology at ACC, hailed RNSM as a safe and promising approach, minimising complications and expediting post-surgical recovery.

Sridhar expressed gratitude for choosing RNSM, avoiding chemotherapy or radiation, thereby averting potential progression to full-fledged cancer.

Dinesh Madhavan, President of Group Oncology and International at Apollo Hospitals , highlighted the transformative impact of robotics on cancer care, enhancing surgical precision and patient outcomes.