A mastectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of the entire breast to treat or prevent breast cancer. The procedure is usually done when a woman cannot be treated with breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy), which saves most of the breast. There are different types of mastectomies, including:

• Total Mastectomy: This surgery removes the entire breast, including the breast tissue, nipple, and areola, and most of the skin covering the breast. It may be a good option for women who have a large area of DCIS or invasive breast cancer that is scattered throughout the breast.

• Modified Radical Mastectomy: This procedure is the treatment of choice for women with invasive breast cancer that has spread to the underarm lymph nodes prior to surgery. It involves removing the entire breast, most of the underarm lymph nodes, and the lining over the chest muscles.

• Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy: This is similar to the skin-sparing mastectomy, but the nipple and areola are preserved. All of the breast tissue, including the ducts going all the way up to the nipple and areola, is removed. The tissues under and around the nipple and areola are carefully cut away and checked by a doctor called a pathologist.

After having a mastectomy, a woman might want to consider having the breast mound rebuilt to restore the breasts appearance. Breast reconstruction can be done at the same time as mastectomy surgery or later.