Definition

A medical procedure where all or part of a breast is surgically removed, often done to treat breast cancer.

Example

After her diagnosis, she decided to undergo a mastectomy to remove the affected tissue.

Conversation

I heard that Sarah had to undergo a mastectomy last week.

Really? That sounds tough. I hope she's doing okay.

Yeah, it must be a difficult recovery process after a mastectomy.

For sure, but I know she has a lot of support from her friends and family.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Mastectomy is formed from "mastos" (meaning breast) and "-ectomy" (meaning surgical removal). The word describes the surgical procedure of removing a breast.

Memory Tip

Think of 'mastos' for breast and '-ectomy' for removal — that's why a mastectomy means the removal of a breast.

Visually Confused Words