Radical Mastectomy

Radical Mastectomy

Radical Mastectomy is a key component of breast cancer treatment that involves removing the cancerous breast. Radical Mastectomy may be used alone or in combination with other treatments, such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy and radiation therapy.

Breast cancer surgery includes different procedures, such as:

Surgery to remove the entire breast (mastectomy)

Surgery to remove a portion of the breast tissue (lumpectomy)

Surgery to remove nearby lymph nodes

Surgery to reconstruct a breast after mastectomy

Which breast cancer operation is best for you depends on the size and stage of your cancer, your other treatment options, and your goals and preferences.

Why it’s done

The goal of Radical Mastectomy is to remove the cancerous breast. For those who choose breast reconstruction, a procedure to place breast implants or reconstruct a breast from your own tissue (flap surgery) may be done at the same time or in a later operation.

Radical Mastectomy is used to treat most stages of breast cancer, including:

A high risk of breast cancer. People with a high risk of breast cancer based on a strong family history of the disease, certain noncancerous breast biopsy results or a gene mutation might consider preventive (prophylactic) mastectomy with or without immediate breast reconstruction as an option to prevent breast cancer.

Noninvasive breast cancer. People diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) may undergo lumpectomy, which may be followed by radiation therapy, though mastectomy with or without breast reconstruction may also be an option.

Early-stage breast cancer. Small breast cancers may be treated with lumpectomy or mastectomy with or without axillary lymph nodes removal with or without breast reconstruction followed by radiation and, sometimes, chemotherapy, hormone therapy or targeted therapy.

Larger breast cancers. Larger cancers may be treated with Modified Radical Mastectomy, though sometimes chemotherapy, hormone therapy or targeted therapy is used before surgery to make it possible to achieve complete clearance.

Additional treatment with radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy or targeted therapy may be recommended.

Locally advanced breast cancers. Breast cancers that are very large or have spread to several lymph nodes are often treated first with chemotherapy, hormone therapy or targeted therapy to shrink the tumor and make surgery more successful. Modified Radical Mastectomy is performed.

Recurrent breast cancer. Breast cancer that recurs after initial treatment may require redo surgery. Additional treatments may be recommended.