mastectomy

noun

mas·​tec·​to·​my ma-ˈstek-tə-mē How to pronounce mastectomy (audio)
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 Nadine Menendez, 57, will also have to undergo a mastectomy, the senator said in a statement. Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 16 May 2024 Thirty days after receiving her diagnosis, Munn underwent a double mastectomy. Sara Vallone, Miami Herald, 16 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for mastectomy 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mastectomy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Greek mastos breast + English -ectomy

First Known Use

circa 1923, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mastectomy was circa 1923

Dictionary Entries Near mastectomy

Cite this Entry

“Mastectomy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mastectomy. Accessed 29 May. 2024.

Medical Definition

mastectomy

noun
mas·​tec·​to·​my ma-ˈstek-tə-mē How to pronounce mastectomy (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on mastectomy

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