When Ami Brasure of Bethesda, Maryland, learned she had breast cancer in February, the prospect of losing feeling in her chest terrified her. “I couldn’t imagine not feeling someone hug me,” she told WTOP.
Determined to avoid that outcome, Brasure sought a surgical team that could preserve sensation. She found that team at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, where Dr. Lucy De La Cruz, chief of the Breast Surgery program, performed a pioneering robotic bilateral nipple‑sparing mastectomy combined with nerve reconstruction on June 25.
How the procedure works
Dr. De La Cruz explained that the robot allows her to remove the cancerous breast tissue through a single 4‑centimeter incision hidden beneath the breast, while she manually removes the lymph nodes through the same opening. Immediately after the oncologic portion, plastic surgeon Dr. Kenneth Fan and the reconstruction team reconnect the nerves and place a permanent implant, completing the operation in one stage.
The approach preserves the nipple, the breast’s nerves, and the overall shape of the breast. According to MedStar’s own data, 87% of patients regain sensation by the 18‑month mark after surgery.
Reduced risk of phantom pain
Dr. De La Cruz noted that the nerve graft used in the procedure also cuts the likelihood of post‑mastectomy phantom pain – a lingering, often severe sensation that can affect amputees. “In my patient population, post‑mastectomy phantom pain is less than 5%,” she said.
Quick recovery and patient experience
Brasure was discharged the same day, home by 4:30 p.m. Three days later she was walking to a nearby Starbucks, and within four weeks she returned to work. She described her recovery as “fairly smooth” with “pretty decent” range of motion.
“I psyched myself up for the worst‑case scenario, and my recovery was far better than I expected,” Brasure said. She also joked about catching up on her favorite TV series while recuperating.
Advice for other patients
Brasure urges other breast‑cancer patients to research their options and advocate for themselves. “If you don’t hear that nipple‑sparing is an option, you don’t hear about sparing your nerves as an option. Go get another opinion,” she advised.
Dr. De La Cruz emphasized that the new technique does not compromise oncologic outcomes. “Her cancer’s out, her lymph node was sampled, margins were good. None of this has impacted her ability to be cancer‑free,” she said.
She added that modern breast‑cancer surgery now balances cancer control with preserving function and appearance, giving women more choices than ever before.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
