Mastectomy is the removal of the breast, which includes 99% of breast tissue. There is no difference in overall survival for a patient with breast cancer whether she has a mastectomy or lumpectomy with radiation therapy. Therefore, it is a very personal choice and one that needs to be discussed with your surgeons.

Skin-sparing mastectomy

In this surgery, the breast tissue is removed through a limited incision made around the areola (the dark part surrounding the nipple). The skin is preserved, as compared to traditional mastecomy, and this facilitates breast reconstruction procedures. Patients with cancers that involve the skin, such as inflammatory cancer, are not candidates for skin-sparing mastectomy.

Nipple-sparing mastectomy

Breast tissue is removed, but the nipple-areola complex is preserved. Recent series suggest that it may be an oncologically sound procedure for tumors not in the subareolar position. Preservation of the nipple/areola does not usually preserve sensation, but after reconstruction leads to a significantly improved cosmetic result.