Mastectomy Health Article

Definition

A mastectomy is the surgical removal of the entire breast, usually to treat serious breast disease, such as breast cancer.

There are four general types of mastectomy:

• Subcutaneous mastectomy -- the entire breast is removed but the nipple and areola (the pigmented circle around the nipple) remain in place
• Total (or simple) mastectomy -- removal of the whole breast, but not the lymph nodes under the arm (axillary nodes).
• Modified radical mastectomy -- removal of the whole breast and most of the lymph nodes under the arm (axillary dissection)
• Radical mastectomy -- removal of the chest wall muscles (pectorals) in addition to the breast and axillary lymph nodes. For many years, this operation was considered the standard for women with breast cancer, but it is rarely used today.

Alternative Names

Breast removal surgery

Description

While the patient is anesthetized (unconscious and pain-free), an incision is made into the breast. The breast tissue is removed from the overlying skin and the underlying muscle. When an axillary dissection is done, it is typically via the same incision.

One or two small plastic drains are usually left in place to prevent fluid from collecting in the space where the breast tissue used to be.

Your surgeon will decide when these drains are removed, typically when the amount of fluid draining decreases to an acceptable volume. This may take a few days to a week or more. Many women go home with their drains and have them removed during an office visit.

It is possible to reconstruct the breast (with artificial implants or native tissue) at the same operation (immediate reconstruction) or at a later date, after other necessary treatments are given (delayed reconstruction).

Reconstruction adds to the complexity of the surgery. Decisions about whether to undergo breast reconstruction, and the best timing are joint decisions between women and their doctors. It involves the consideration of many different individual factors.