At the Forefront of Breast Cancer Treatment

The staff has been performing minimally invasive, breast-sparing surgery as well as breast reconstruction and breast-conserving treatment, which contributed to its reputation for minimizing the asymmetry of breasts, the symbol of feminine beauty. The medical team recently expanded its goal even further to minimize not only pain that breast cancer patients experience, but also the feeling of loss to heal the mind. The Cancer Research Center of CHA Bundang Medical Center separately operates the Breast/Thyroid Cancer Center, which enables it to provide more specialized and tailored care for breast cancer patients.

Introduction of the da Vinci Si, a State-of-the-Art Robotic Surgical System, Enhances the Curative Effect

The da Vinci Si is the most famous and widely-used robotic laparoscopic surgical system that allows surgeons to use a 3D console to remotely control a 3D magnifying surgical camera and robotic arms inserted through a number of small incisions to access and operate on the affected area. The tridimensional magnified image displayed on the monitor expands the field of view over the surgical site by ten to fifteen times, while the motion of the hands of the operating surgeon is digitally processed to reduce tremor, permitting delicate surgical operations. The size of an incision is significantly smaller than conventional laparoscopic surgery, which helps to reduce bleeding and improve post-operative recovery for patients. This robotic surgery is applicable to sites on the thyroid, gallbladder, stomach, rectum and large intestine.

Taking the Lead in Highly Complex Robotic Surgery Including Robotic Surgery through Umbilical Incision and Simultaneous Operation on Double Cancer

Especially, Single-Site Robotic Cholecystectomy (SSRC) that operates through umbilical incision of patients with benign gallbladder disease has increased the level of satisfaction with treatment. Since this technique requires only one incision in the navel, the scar can be buried into the navel, making it virtually invisible. Thus, patients do not have to worry about a scar produced from the port.

Moreover, the staff collaborated with the Department of Urology to operate on a patient who suffered from both prostate cancer and gallbladder cancer in just one round of robotic surgery, removing cancer in prostate and gallbladder through the same port, which was for the first time in Korea. Likewise, the team operates on two organs simultaneously even though they are located on the opposite sides of a patient’s body. This approach allows for fast recovery because it can minimize the amount of energy the patient needs in the course of treatment.

In addition, the medical staff also successfully carried out highly complicated robotic surgery such as operation on a patient with both liver and lung cancer, Type IVa choledochal cyst treatment that performs three types of surgery – hepatectomy, choledochectomy and choledochoenterostomy – simultaneously for the first time in the world. All these efforts and outcomes have increased patient satisfaction.