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
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According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer patients who undergo a mastectomy typically have the nipple removed along with the rest of the breast.
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Charna Flam, People.com, 16 Aug. 2025
In 2014, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy.
—Andrew Dalton, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2025
She was reportedly diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy in 2014, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2025
According to a GoFundMe page set up to help her pay for her medical expenses, Spencer was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy in 2014 and emergency surgery in 2018 to relieve bleeding on her brain.
—Mekishana Pierre, EW.com, 12 Aug. 2025
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Charna Flam, People.com, 16 Aug. 2025
In 2014, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy.
—Andrew Dalton, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2025
She was reportedly diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy in 2014, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2025
According to a GoFundMe page set up to help her pay for her medical expenses, Spencer was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy in 2014 and emergency surgery in 2018 to relieve bleeding on her brain.
—Mekishana Pierre, EW.com, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mastectomy
Cite this Entry
“Mastectomy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mastectomy. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical 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
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