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

As a result of the scan, Robach was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, and underwent a double mastectomy, as well as chemotherapy. —Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026

In 2015, Wilson, then 58, revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had undergone a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction. —Edward Segarra, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026

An England woman and her dog are bonded for life after both being diagnosed with the same type of cancer years apart — and both undergoing mastectomies. —Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2026

The woman from England and her pet now share an even deeper bond after both had mastectomies and were declared cancer-free. —Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Greek mastos breast + English -ectomy

First Known Use

circa 1923, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mastectomy

• colectomy
• cystectomy
• gastrectomy
• lobectomy
• nephrectomy
• splenectomy
• thymectomy
• vasectomy
• vitrectomy
• adrenalectomy
• cholecystectomy
• endarterectomy

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