Mastectomy

Summary

A mastectomy is surgery to remove a breast or part of a breast. It is usually done to treat breast cancer. Types of breast surgery include:

• Total (simple) mastectomy – removal of breast tissue and nipple
• Modified radical mastectomy – removal of the breast, most of the lymph nodes under the arm, and often the lining over the chest muscles
• Lumpectomy – surgery to remove the tumor and a small amount of normal tissue around it

Which surgery you have depends on the stage of cancer, size of the tumor, size of the breast, and whether the lymph nodes are involved. Many women have breast reconstruction to rebuild the breast after a mastectomy.

Sometimes mastectomy is done to prevent breast cancer. Only high-risk patients have this type of surgery.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

National Cancer Institute

Find an Expert

• American Cancer Society American Cancer Society
• National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute

Start Here

• Breast Cancer Surgery Susan G. Komen for the Cure
• Mastectomy Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Mastectomy — The Surgical Procedure Susan G. Komen for the Cure
• Surgery Choices for Women with DCIS or Breast Cancer National Cancer Institute
• Surgery for Breast Cancer American Cancer Society

Related Issues

• Breast Cancer: Types of Treatment American Society of Clinical Oncology

Patient Handouts

• Breast lump removal Medical Encyclopedia
• Mastectomy Medical Encyclopedia
• Mastectomy – discharge Medical Encyclopedia

Images

• Breast lump removal – series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia
• Mastectomy – series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Mastectomy National Institutes of Health

Specifics

• Deciding between Mastectomy or Lumpectomy Susan G. Komen for the Cure
• Surgery to Reduce the Risk of Breast Cancer National Cancer Institute
• What You Need to Know about a Mastectomy Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Living With

• Follow up Care After Breast Cancer Treatment American Cancer Society

Encyclopedia

• Mastectomy and breast reconstruction – what to ask your doctor Medical Encyclopedia

Journal Articles

• Mastectomy