What is mastectomy breast cancer?

Mastectomy breast cancer is a type of surgery that involves the removal of all or part of the breast tissue to treat and prevent the spread of breast cancer. It's a very commonly performed procedure, with over 230,000 mastectomies being carried out in the United States every year.

During a mastectomy, surgeons will typically remove both breasts (bilateral mastectomy) although it may be possible for patients to only have one removed (unilateral mastectomy). The extent of tissue to be removed is determined by an assessment from your surgeon. This could include removing just the lump itself or entire lobes depending upon stage, size and grade. An axillary lymph node dissection – the surgical removal of lymph nodes from underarm area – may also need to be done at this time.

Although there are risks associated with any kind of surgery such as infection, bleeding and nerve damage; fortunately most women who have had a mastectomy recover without any issues and lead completely normal lives afterward. Before undergoing treatment however it’s important you thoroughly understand what will take place so you can make informed decisions regarding your care plan. Your doctor should provide detailed information on potential procedures, outcomes and side effects which you should discuss openly with them before proceeding ahead with treatment options.