mastectomy

noun

mas·​tec·​to·​my ma-ˈstek-tə-mē 

plural mastectomies

: surgical removal of all or part of the breast and sometimes associated lymph nodes and muscles

Did you know?

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women. Early cases can often be treated with drugs or with a small operation called a lumpectomy (because it removes a lump). Though a "simple mastectomy" is larger than a lumpectomy, it allows the breast to be reconstructed, using artificial implants or tissue from elsewhere on the body. But "radical mastectomy", which is required when the cancer is at an advanced stage, takes much of the chest muscle and makes reconstruction impossible.

Examples of mastectomy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

She was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer in April 2024, and has since undergone a double mastectomy and reconstruction along with other treatments. —Jacqui Palumbo, CNN, 24 Oct. 2024

The Duchess of York, who is popularly known as Fergie, was diagnosed with breast cancer and successfully underwent a single mastectomy in 2023 and has since used her platform to advocate for the importance of early cancer detection through screenings. —Janine Henni, People.com, 9 Oct. 2024

Ahern, for example, is one of the rare cases of a minor being cleared by medical professionals to receive top surgery, or a double mastectomy. —Jo Yurcaba, NBC News, 8 Oct. 2024

Since then, the lifestyle and commerce correspondent has documented her health journey, from getting a double mastectomy to recovering from chemotherapy treatments. —Charmaine Patterson, Peoplemag, 5 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Greek mastos breast + English -ectomy

First Known Use

circa 1923, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

mastectomy

noun

mas·​tec·​to·​my ma-ˈstek-tə-mē 

plural mastectomies

: surgical removal of all or part of the breast and sometimes associated lymph nodes and muscles see modified radical mastectomy, partial mastectomy, radical mastectomy, simple mastectomy