Risk-reducing breast surgery - terms explained

The breasts Back to top

The breasts are made up of fat, supportive (connective) tissue and glandular tissue that contains lobes. The lobes (milk glands) are where breast milk is produced. These are connected to the nipple by a network of milk ducts.

 

Under the skin, an area of breast tissue extends into the armpit (axilla). The armpits also contain a collection of lymph nodes (glands), which are part of the lymphatic system.

There are also lymph nodes just beside the breastbone (internal mammary lymph nodes) and behind the collarbone.

 

Contralateral mastectomy Back to top

Women with a strong family history of breast cancer and who have cancer in one breast sometimes decide to have the other breast removed to reduce the chance of getting breast cancer again. This is called contralateral mastectomy.

We have more information about the different types of surgery| that might be used to treat breast cancer.

Breast reconstruction Back to top

Risk-reducing mastectomy can usually be followed by breast reconstruction| (the formation of new breast shapes). This can be done either during the same operation (immediate reconstruction) or at a later date (delayed reconstruction).

This is optional – not everyone who decides to have risk-reducing mastectomy will want to have breast reconstruction.