Ms. Fan, a 39-year-old fitness coach, had undergone breast-conserving surgery for left breast triple-negative breast cancer seven years ago. Recently, she developed multiple new breast cancer lesions in her right breast. Due to her profession's high demands on body aesthetics and motor function, she hoped to eradicate the disease while preserving breast appearance. Recently, the Breast Surgery Department team at the International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital of China Welfare Institute, through a multidisciplinary team (MDT) consultation, utilized a domestically developed single-port surgical robot with snake-like instruments to perform a total right breast glandectomy, sentinel lymph node biopsy, and immediate breast reconstruction. All procedures were completed through a single, concealed 3cm incision in the armpit, successfully achieving the dual goals of "radical cure and aesthetics."

In 2019, Ms. Fan, then working as a fitness coach, was diagnosed with left breast triple-negative breast cancer. At that time, Dr. Wei Min, her attending physician at the hospital, and her team successfully performed a breast-conserving radical surgery after gaining a detailed understanding of her condition and expectations. Following the surgery, Ms. Fan quickly returned to her professional role.

Fast forward seven years. At the end of 2025, during a routine postoperative follow-up, an ultrasound examination revealed a new mass in Ms. Fan's right breast. A subsequent MRI confirmed multiple masses in the right breast, suggestive of multiple breast cancer lesions. Factors such as an onset age under 40, multiple lesions, and a history of triple-negative breast cancer made a second conventional breast-conserving surgery unsuitable, necessitating a complete removal of the right breast glandular tissue. Given that her BRCA gene (breast cancer susceptibility gene) testing after her first surgery revealed no pathogenic mutations, the expert team determined that her left breast required no further intervention.

As a fitness coach, Ms. Fan was deeply concerned about the impact of surgery on her physical appearance and motor function. "We must remove the cancer thoroughly while ensuring aesthetics and function to the greatest extent possible," has always been the treatment philosophy upheld by the hospital's breast surgery team. Considering Ms. Fan's professional needs and medical condition, the team led by Dr. Wei Min, after an MDT consultation, ultimately decided on a surgical plan utilizing the domestically developed single-port surgical robot with snake-like instruments— currently the only single-port surgical robot with a fixed remote center of motion (RCM) in China and the second such device globally. This robot was the key to solving Ms. Fan's dilemma of balancing a radical cure with cosmetic preservation.

On the day of surgery, Dr. Wei Min's team completed the total right breast glandectomy, sentinel lymph node biopsy, and immediate breast reconstruction through a single, concealed 3cm incision following the natural skin crease in the axilla (armpit). Leveraging the multi-degree-of-freedom snake-like instruments, the expert team achieved 540-degree flexible articulation within tight spaces. Combined with a 10x magnified, high-definition 3D visual field, they precisely avoided critical blood vessels and nerves, maximizing the preservation of normal tissue and pectoral muscle function. Compared to the 10-15cm chest scar left by traditional surgery, the single-port design made the incision concealed and virtually scarless on the chest surface, perfectly meeting the high demands of athletic activity for body symmetry and appearance, while also reducing the risk of postoperative upper limb dysfunction. The entire surgery lasted one and a half hours, and while successfully removing the right breast glandular tissue, it left virtually no visible scars on the chest surface. Ms. Fan is currently recovering well and has gradually begun her rehabilitation training.

In recent years, the Breast Surgery Department of the International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital has successively carried out endoscopic radical mastectomy and reconstructive surgeries. In 2025, the department actively explored the use of artificial intelligence to assist breast endoscopic surgery, particularly domestically developed single-port robotic breast cancer surgery. "The domestically developed single-port surgical robot with snake-like instruments plays a significant role and achieves substantial outcomes in this surgery, especially in small-cavity operations like breast surgery. It makes complex surgery safer and more efficient, while the immediate breast reconstruction technique avoids the pain of a second surgery for the patient, truly achieving 'dual healing in a single operation,'" explained Dr. Wang Jie, Director of the Breast Surgery Department. "This entirely new surgical approach greatly reduces surgical trauma and significantly shortens postoperative recovery time."

With the deep integration of artificial intelligence and medical healthcare, more and more breast cancer patients are experiencing transformative recoveries and embarking on renewed lives. When facing surgery, patients can now access unprecedentedly advanced technology while resolving health issues with less risk and burden. In the future, the Breast Surgery Department will continue to explore the clinical potential of domestically developed single-port robots in the breast surgery field, allowing more breast cancer patients who value their quality of life to overcome their disease while preserving the beauty and dignity of life.