MASTECTOMY

Mastectomy AUSTIN

Mastectomy means surgical removal of the breast. It is derived from the Greek noun mastos, which means woman’s breast and the English suffix –ectomy that means removal. It originated (I think) in the early 1900s.

With a mastectomy the entire breast is moved. The different subtypes of mastectomy refer to whether or not the lymph nodes in the underarm or the overlying skin/nipple are removed as well.