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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Perry chose to undergo a double mastectomy.
—
Pamela Chelin, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Yet, rather than stick her face in socials or seek limelight following such hit-making, Perry dedicated a decade to her home-studio’s red light and also recovering from a 2022 double mastectomy for cancer discovered while prepping for elective reduction surgery.
—A.d. Amorosi, SPIN, 4 May 2026
The researchers found that women under 45 had higher mastectomy rates compared with those over 45 (63 percent versus 37 percent).
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 1 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for mastectomy
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Pamela Chelin, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Yet, rather than stick her face in socials or seek limelight following such hit-making, Perry dedicated a decade to her home-studio’s red light and also recovering from a 2022 double mastectomy for cancer discovered while prepping for elective reduction surgery.
—A.d. Amorosi, SPIN, 4 May 2026
The researchers found that women under 45 had higher mastectomy rates compared with those over 45 (63 percent versus 37 percent).
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 1 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for mastectomy
Cite this Entry
“Mastectomy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mastectomy. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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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