mastectomy Definition
a surgical operation to remove a breast, usually performed either to remove cancer or as a prophylactic measure.
Using mastectomy: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "mastectomy" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
After her diagnosis, she decided to undergo a mastectomy.
Example
The surgeon recommended a double mastectomy as a preventative measure.
Example
She had a successful mastectomy and is now in recovery.
mastectomy Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for mastectomy
- breast removal surgery
- breast excision
Phrases with mastectomy
a surgical procedure that involves the removal of the entire breast, underlying chest muscles, and lymph nodes
Example
She underwent a radical mastectomy to treat her advanced breast cancer.
a surgical procedure that involves the removal of the entire breast and some of the lymph nodes under the arm
Example
Her doctor recommended a modified radical mastectomy to treat her early-stage breast cancer.
skin-sparing mastectomy
a surgical procedure that removes the breast tissue while preserving most of the skin overlying the breast
Example
She opted for a skin-sparing mastectomy to preserve the appearance of her breast after surgery.
Origins of mastectomy
from Greek 'mastos' meaning 'breast' and 'ektomē' meaning 'excision'
Summary: mastectomy in Brief
'Mastectomy' [maˈstɛktəmi] is a surgical procedure to remove a breast, typically done to treat cancer or as a preventative measure. It can be a radical, modified radical, or skin-sparing mastectomy, depending on the extent of tissue and lymph node removal. Examples include 'After her diagnosis, she decided to undergo a mastectomy.'