Hope Beyond Cope for Lymphedema: How Robotic Microsurgery Helped This Breast Cancer Survivor Take Her Life Back

When Deven Phillips was diagnosed with breast cancer at 36, her life changed overnight. A dedicated mom of two, wife, daughter, and teacher, Deven faced not only the shock of a cancer diagnosis, but a cascade of invasive treatments—chemo, mastectomy, radiation, reconstruction—and an unexpected, but not uncommon, long-term complication: lymphedema, an often debilitating condition that causes swelling due to a buildup of lymph fluid, most often in the arms or legs. Most patients have been faced with having to manage painful, burdensome symptoms over their lifetime with few treatment options.

Today, thanks to a groundbreaking robotic procedure using the Symani® Surgical System, Deven is experiencing life without complications and back in her classroom, back on her feet, and sharing her story.

We sat down with Deven to talk about her journey, the moment everything changed, and how robotic microsurgery restored her quality of life.

Q: Let’s start from the beginning. How did your cancer diagnosis unfold?

Deven: It was the Fourth of July weekend in 2017 when I woke up from a feeling of soreness and found a lump in my breast. I was in the best shape of my life—working out daily, feeling strong. We had no family history of breast cancer. For me, it really happened overnight, and I knew immediately it didn’t feel right. My doctor thought it was probably nothing, since I was young and had no medical history, but sent me for a mammogram just in case.

I then had a biopsy. A few weeks later, while setting up my classroom for the upcoming school year and working through the final to-dos for my son’s fifth birthday party the following day, I got the call: it was cancer. My journey started then and there, and it moved quickly. I told my principal I wouldn’t be able to start the school year, filled out the paperwork and booked appointments, and prepared myself for whatever came next.

All the while, I threw my son his birthday party and waited to tell the people in my life until after. I wanted to make sure that day was all about him.

Q: What did treatment look like for you?

Deven: It was aggressive. Five months of chemotherapy, 28 rounds of radiation, a bilateral mastectomy and later, reconstruction. During surgery, they removed some lymph nodes and later discovered the cancer, which was invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), had spread to them. That meant more surgery to remove more lymph nodes—and a new risk I now faced: lymphedema.

Q: Lymphedema is still under-recognized. How did it impact you?

Deven: My doctor’s told me I’d likely develop it, as it is a common complication seen from these surgeries, and what signs to look out for. They gave me a compression sleeve to wear when flying or doing heavy physical activity, as a precaution. At first, it was subtle. Some swelling in my hand. A heaviness I couldn’t shake. Eventually, I needed to use compression garments daily. As an active mom and teacher, it affected everything. I was always adjusting my routine, from what I carried, how long I stood, even how I traveled. It’s a constant reminder that you’re not “done” with cancer.

In need of a better solution than symptom management, Deven’s surgeon suggested surgical intervention with the aim of providing lasting relief for her condition.

Q: How did you learn about lymphatic surgery—and the Symani Surgical System?

Deven: My plastic surgeon referred me to Dr. Philip Brazio at Cedars-Sinai, who performs lymphovenous bypass (LVB) surgery. My first surgery was done manually, and it was a success. More passageways opened to help drain the fluid, which prompted my second surgery. This time though, Dr. Brazio suggested we use a microsurgical robot. He answered all my questions and explained the benefits it posed to help me heal faster. We moved forward with the robot-assisted surgery. That changed everything.

Q: How was the robotic procedure different?

Deven: Night and day. After my first surgery, recovery took about eight weeks, and I had to take medication to manage the pain. With the Symani robot, I was back at work in just two weeks and after a few days, I realized I didn’t need to take pain medication. I experienced improved results immediately—less swelling and better range of motion. It was life changing. My first recovery was rough. With the robot, it felt like my body said, “I’ve got this.”

Q: What do you want others, especially other breast cancer survivors, to glean from your experience?

Deven: That options exist. Too many women are living with pain and swelling, thinking it’s just part of survival. But there’s hope to truly heal. Robotic surgery might sound futuristic, but it’s happening now, and it’s helping people like me get our lives back. I’m a mom, I’m a teacher, and I’m not sidelined anymore.

Q: That’s an incredibly powerful message. Where do you go from here?

Deven: Honestly, I just want to enjoy the life I fought for. I want to keep showing up for my family, especially my kids, and my students. And if sharing my story helps even one woman ask her doctor about robotic surgery for lymphedema treatment—then that’s worth everything.