Radical Mastectomy Surgery

A radical mastectomy procedure is also known as a Halsted mastectomy.  Radical mastectomy is now only performed on patients who have advanced breast cancer that has invaded the muscle wall under the breast tissue. In a radical mastectomy surgery all of the breast tissue of the affected breast is removed. It also removes all of the lymph nodes under the arm on the affected side and the muscle that lies under the breast. Only the skin required to close the incision is left in place.  A radical mastectomy surgery is not considered necessary for patients whose cancer has not invaded the muscle.