Mastectomy

A mastectomy is the surgical removal of the whole breast, which includes the tissue bound by the axilla (armpit), the breastbone and the collarbone.

Several types of mastectomy are performed, including the following:

• Partial – lumpectomy
• Simple – removal of breast, but not the axillary lymph nodes
• Bilateral – removal of both breasts
• Skin-sparing – removal of as little skin as possible
• Modified radical – removal of whole breast including the nipple, areola and axillary lymph nodes
• Radical – everything listed above plus chest muscles (very rarely performed today).
• Subcutaneous – removal of breast tissue but not the nipple or areola (not an effective cancer treatment because breast tissue remains)
• Prophylactic – preventive (see simple)
  
  

Radiation is not given after a mastectomy unless local recurrence is of greater than normal concern, such as when cancer remains in the chest wall or in regional lymph nodes.nd.

Studies comparing lumpectomy plus radiation with mastectomy have shown little to no difference in survival rates (1, 2). To read more, visit Lumpectomy vs. Mastectomy.

Would you like to talk with someone who has had a mastectomy? Call the YourShoes 24/7 Breast Cancer Support Center at 1-800-221-2141 (interpreters available in more than 150 languages) and speak with a trained peer counselor who is a breast cancer survivor.

Resources:

1. Fisher, B., Anderson, S., Bryant, J., Margolese, R. G., Deutsch, M., Fisher, E. R., et al. (2002). Twenty-year follow-up of a randomized trial comparing total mastectomy, lumpectomy, and lumpectomy plus irradiation for the treatment of invasive breast cancer. New England Journal of Medicine, 347(16), 1233-1241.

2. Veronesi, U., Cascinelli, N., Mariani, L., Greco, M., Saccozzi, R., Luini, A., et al. (2002). Twenty-year follow-up of a randomized study comparing breast-conserving surgery with radical mastectomy for early breast cancer. New England Journal of Medicine, 347(16), 1227-1232.

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