Overview

A mastectomy is a surgical procedure that removes all of the breast tissue from a breast in order to treat or prevent breast cancer.

A mastectomy may be one therapy option for patients with early-stage breast cancer. Another alternative is breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy), which removes only the tumor from the breast.

It might be tough to choose between a mastectomy and a lumpectomy. Both methods are equally successful in avoiding breast cancer recurrence. However, a lumpectomy is not an option for everyone with breast cancer, and others choose a mastectomy.

Newer mastectomy procedures can retain breast skin and result in a more natural breast look. This is sometimes referred to as a skin-sparing mastectomy.