Mastectomy

A mastectomy is a surgery where all the breast tissue is removed to treat and take out breast cancer. If you have an elevated risk of getting breast cancer because of a genetic mutation, your surgeon may suggest that you get a mastectomy to stop the cancer from coming back in the future.

Some patients will also have a sentinel lymph node biopsy, which is a procedure that can help determine if cancer has spread outside of the tumor into the lymphatic system.

If you are having a sentinel lymph node biopsy:

• You will get an injection of a tracer into your breast to help identify the sentinel lymph nodes. To find the lymph nodes, your surgeon will use a special probe at the time of surgery.
• Your surgeon may also inject a blue dye into your breast tissue to make your lymph nodes stand out. For a few weeks, the dye will stay in your tissues.
• Your surgeon will take out a sample of the sentinel nodes, usually between one and five.
• The sentinel nodes are given to a pathologist to look for signs of cancer under a microscope.

Total or simple mastectomy 

All the breast tissue is taken out, but the pectoral muscles are left in place. Total mastectomy can be done on just one breast or both breasts.

Double mastectomy

Also called a bilateral mastectomy, a double mastectomy is when both breasts are removed completely. If you have cancer in both breasts or have a high chance of getting cancer in both breasts from a genetic mutation, you may need a double mastectomy.

Mastectomy with reconstruction of the breasts

Whether you are having a skin-sparing or nipple-sparing mastectomy, you may be able to have breast reconstruction surgery at the same time. This will depend on your exact type of breast cancer and how you’re being treated. You can also have breast reconstruction in a later surgery.

With a skin-sparing or nipple-sparing mastectomy, your breast tissue is removed, but your skin and/or nipple are saved so they can be used to rebuild your breast.

Breast reconstruction: One of our specialist plastic surgeons may be able to reconstruct the breast with implants or normal tissue during the same operation. If you have breast reconstruction, a skin sparing mastectomy or nipple sparing mastectomy may be good option.