Everything You Need to Know About Getting a Mastectomy
iStock April 13, 2021 For the estimated 281,550 women who’ll be diagnosed with breast cancer this year alone, the decision to undergo a mastectomy is big. The surgery involves removing the breast tissue (and potentially nearby lymph nodes to ensure the cancer hasn’t spread) to reduce the risk of recurrence. One type of mastectomy does not fit all. There’s a total mastectomy, which involves removing the entire breast, including the breast tissue, areola, and nipple; a skin-sparing mastectomy where the breast tissue, nipple, and areola are removed but not the skin, and a nipple-sparing su...