Word
mastectomy
Phoneticsmas·tec·to·my
US/mæˈstɛktəmi/
UK/mɑːstˈɛktəmi/
Definition
n. a medical operation to remove one or both of a person's breasts. It is often done to treat or prevent breast cancer.
n. a surgical procedure involving the removal of one or both breasts, typically performed for the treatment or prevention of breast cancer.
Examples
“She decided to have a mastectomy after her diagnosis.”
“The surgeon explained that a mastectomy might be necessary if the cancer is located in multiple areas of the breast tissue.”
“Advances in reconstructive surgery have significantly improved the quality of life for patients who choose a mastectomy, allowing for a more natural appearance and reduced psychological distress following the procedure.”
Examples
simple
“She decided to have a mastectomy after her diagnosis.”
contextual
“The surgeon explained that a mastectomy might be necessary if the cancer is located in multiple areas of the breast tissue.”
complex
“Advances in reconstructive surgery have significantly improved the quality of life for patients who choose a mastectomy, allowing for a more natural appearance and reduced psychological distress following the procedure.”
Real-World Examples
“Denise Howarth, 51, who was diagnosed with stage one cancer, underwent a mastectomy that was not needed.” “Low vitamin D levels may make recovery from breast cancer surgery more painful, according to a study of 184 women undergoing mastectomy.” Etymology
From mast- + -ectomy.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.