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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
- Breast Cancer Surgery (Susan G. Komen for the Cure) - PDF Also in Spanish
- Mastectomy (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Mastectomy -- The Surgical Procedure (Susan G. Komen for the Cure)
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Surgery Choices for Women with DCIS or Breast Cancer
(National Cancer Institute)
- PDF
- Surgery for Breast Cancer (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
- Surgical Procedures for Breast Cancer - Mastectomy and Breast Conserving Therapy (Beyond the Basics) (UpToDate)
Latest News
- Misunderstood Gene Tests May Lead to Unnecessary Mastectomies (04/12/2017, HealthDay)
- Preventive Mastectomy Rates Vary by State (03/29/2017, HealthDay)
Related Issues
- Adjuvant Medical Therapy for HER2-Positive Breast Cancer (UpToDate)
- Breast Cancer: Treatment Options (American Society of Clinical Oncology) Also in Spanish
- Choosing a Breast Prosthesis: A Survivor's Perspective (American Society of Clinical Oncology)
- Talking with the Doctor about Breast Surgery Options (American Society of Clinical Oncology)
Specifics
- Deciding between Mastectomy and Lumpectomy (Susan G. Komen for the Cure)
-
Surgery to Reduce the Risk of Breast Cancer
(National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
- What to Expect During a Mastectomy Surgery (Susan G. Komen for the Cure)
Images
- Breast lump removal - slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Mastectomy - slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Videos and Tutorials
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Breast Reconstruction: Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator
(BroadcastMed)
- Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY, 1/11/2008
Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Mastectomy
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Find an Expert
Men
- Surgery for Breast Cancer in Men (American Cancer Society)
Patient Handouts
- Breast lump removal (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Mastectomy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Mastectomy - discharge (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish