Mastectomy is the medical term for the surgical removal of one or both breasts, partially or completely. A mastectomy is usually carried out to treat breast cancer. In some cases, people believed to be at high risk of breast cancer have the operation as a preventive measure.

Why would someone get a mastectomy?

A mastectomy is surgery to remove a breast. Sometimes other tissues near the breast, such as lymph nodes, are also removed. This surgery is most often used to treat breast cancer. In some cases, a mastectomy is done to help prevent breast cancer in women who have a high risk for it.

What does having a mastectomy mean?

Mastectomy is breast cancer surgery that removes the entire breast. A mastectomy may be done: When a woman cannot be treated with breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy), which spares most of the breast. If a woman chooses mastectomy over breast-conserving surgery for personal reasons.