Mastectomy

Category: Cancer

Topic: Breast cancer

Breast cancer is treated with surgery. The aim of the operation is to remove the cancer so it is less likely to grow or return. The two types of surgery are breast conserving treatment and mastectomy. Some women choose to have breast reconstruction surgery to give a similar appearance to the look of their original breast in normal clothes.

Mastectomy is an operation that removes the entire breast. Lymph nodes from the armpit will also be taken out. Sometimes, the size and location of the cancer means that mastectomy is the better treatment option; for example, the tumour may be spread across the bulk of the breast. In some cases, radiotherapy might be used after the operation.