Mastectomy is the surgical removal of the breast. In the past, it was the only surgery used to treat breast cancer. It was thought to be the best way to remove all of the cancer in the breast. Today, however, many women have the option of mastectomy or lumpectomy (also called breast conserving surgery) plus radiation.
Eligibility for Mastectomy
Mastectomy is an option for all women, including those who have ductal carcinoma in situ, early breast cancer, locally advanced breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer and Paget's disease. Mastectomy is also used to treat breast cancer that has come back after prior lumpectomy. Some women at high risk of getting breast cancer may consider mastectomy to try to prevent breast cancer (called prophylactic mastectomy). For more on options for women at high risk of breast cancer, visit the Risk Factors section.
Mastectomy is the main treatment for male breast cancer. For more on breast cancer in men, visit the Male Breast Cancer section .
Types of Mastectomy
There are two types of mastectomy: total (simple) mastectomy and modified radical mastectomy. A woman's diagnosis guides what type of mastectomy she has. The figures below show the differences between the types of mastectomy and describe when each is used.
If a woman is having breast reconstruction at the same time as a mastectomy, the surgeon can use a skin-sparing technique. A skin-sparing mastectomy uses the skin that surrounds the breast to help form the reconstructed breast. For more on reconstructive surgery, visit the Breast Reconstruction section.
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Total Mastectomy
In a total or simple mastectomy, the surgeon removes the entire breast but no other tissue or nodes. This type of mastectomy is used to treat ductal carcinoma in situ, Paget's disease with underlying non-invasive cancer and, in some cases, recurrent breast cancer. It is also used for women at higher risk who undergo mastectomy to try to prevent breast cancer. For more on this, see the Risk Factors and Prevention section.
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Modified Radical Mastectomy
In a modified radical mastectomy, the surgeon removes the breast, the lining of the chest muscles and some of the lymph nodes in the armpit (called axillary dissection). In many cases, axillary dissection can be replaced by sentinel node biopsy.
This type of mastectomy is used to treat invasive cancers, including early breast cancer, locally advanced breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer and Paget's disease with underlying invasive breast cancer.
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Updated 08/24/09
