Mastectomy is the removal of one or both infected breasts partially and completely by surgery. It is done when cancer is medically confirmed in the breast. Several patients choose lumpectomy, which is removal of only small volume of breast tissues affected by cancer. Women who have high risk of breast cancer decide to have a preventive mastectomy. Women who have cancer in one breast sometimes decides preventive mastectomy of other breast also.

Mastectomy is considered when it is found medically that lumpectomy will not be effective to remove cancerous tissues. Also mastectomy is considered when

1. Patient is unable to have radiation therapy.
2. Patient had already been treated by radiation therapy.
3. Patient is having two or more areas of cancer in the same breast.
4. Patient is having large tumor.

There are several types of mastectomies to be chosen by the patients and doctors. In total mastectomy surgeon removes the entire breast. Nipple sparing mastectomy is done when there is early stage cancer and there is no sign of cancer near ripple. In some cases, radical mastectomy is carried out where surgeon removes the entire breast under arum lymph nodes and chest wall muscles under the breast.