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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The comic, 42, talked about caring for Munn, 44, after she was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer in both breasts – which required multiple surgeries including a double mastectomy – on Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson’s SiriusXM podcast, Where Everybody Knows Your Name.
—
Staff Author, People.com, 21 May 2025
After getting a partial mastectomy last year to remove a breast lesion, his wife is scheduled for several follow-up appointments with a variety of doctors this year.
—Ashley Killough, CNN Money, 16 May 2025
Fergie was diagnosed with breast cancer (and underwent a single mastectomy) in June 2023 and was later diagnosed with malignant melanoma (a form of skin cancer) months later in January 2024.
—Janine Henni, People.com, 16 May 2025
During the reconstructive surgery following her mastectomy, Ferguson had moles removed which were then tested.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2025
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Staff Author, People.com, 21 May 2025
After getting a partial mastectomy last year to remove a breast lesion, his wife is scheduled for several follow-up appointments with a variety of doctors this year.
—Ashley Killough, CNN Money, 16 May 2025
Fergie was diagnosed with breast cancer (and underwent a single mastectomy) in June 2023 and was later diagnosed with malignant melanoma (a form of skin cancer) months later in January 2024.
—Janine Henni, People.com, 16 May 2025
During the reconstructive surgery following her mastectomy, Ferguson had moles removed which were then tested.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 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 10 Jun. 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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