7 Mastectomy Myths Debunked
CancerBreast Cancer

7 Myths About Mastectomy

7 Myths About Mastectomy
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Published on February 24, 2026
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Mastectomy, a surgery that removes breast tissue, can prevent or treat breast cancer. More than 100,000 women have some type of mastectomy each year in the U.S.

If you receive a breast cancer diagnosis, your healthcare provider may recommend a mastectomy alongside other treatments like radiation or chemotherapy.

 If you have a high cancer risk because of gene mutations like BRCA1 or BRCA2, removing both breasts can lower your chances of developing breast cancer by up to 95 percent.

Through the years, experts have disagreed on the best mastectomy options, leading to widespread myths about the procedure.

 Here are some of the most common mastectomy myths and the truth behind them.

1. Myth: You Must Have a Mastectomy If You Have Breast Cancer

In the 1800s, Dr. William Halsted revolutionized the world of breast cancer when he published a study recommending the removal of the entire breast and chest muscle to treat breast cancer.

 Many surgeons adopted this idea, which may have led people to believe that you must have a mastectomy if you have breast cancer. Now experts know that a lumpectomy (surgery to remove the cancer and a small amount of tissue surrounding it) offers another effective option.

Because doctors now perform lumpectomies alongside other modern treatments, lumpectomy and mastectomy offer equal rates of survival and recurrence (when breast cancer comes back), says Dana Henkel, MD, a breast cancer and oncoplastic surgeon at the SSM Health Dean Medical Group in Madison, Wisconsin. “The bottom line is that bigger surgery (mastectomy) is not usually better,” says Dr. Henkel.

2. Myth: A Mastectomy Will Remove All the Cancer

Experts used to think that cancer stayed in the breast for a long time before spreading, and early research showed a very low rate of breast cancer returning after a mastectomy. These ideas may have led to a common belief that this surgery removes all cancer.

“While mastectomy significantly reduces the risk of recurrence in the breast, it does not eliminate it entirely,” says Monique Gary, DO, a breast surgical oncologist at St. Luke’s Cancer Care Associates Surgical Oncology in Sellersville, Pennsylvania.

Even though surgical techniques have improved, no surgeon can remove every single cell that may turn into cancer in the future.

 “A small risk remains, usually under the skin or along the chest wall,” says Dr. Gary, who recommends follow-up care and regular clinical exams after a mastectomy.

3. Myth: Quality of Life Will Be Permanently Diminished After a Mastectomy

Removal of breast tissue may feel frightening, and many women worry their quality of life will never recover after a mastectomy. But Gary has witnessed many women live full lives after the procedure.

Mastectomies do come with some risks, like pain, swelling, or numbness, but complications are rare.

 Beyond the physical effects, breast removal can leave you with feelings of grief, fear, or anger, and some women report having a negative body image after a mastectomy.

Whatever emotions you feel are normal and even expected, but you don’t have to go through them alone. Breast cancer support groups can offer community and helpful advice. It may take time to adjust to your new body, but Gary finds her patients recover very well after surgery.

“I see patients return to full, active lives after mastectomy — they paddleboard, engage in rigorous exercise, and enjoy intimacy,” says Gary, adding that a good quality of life after mastectomy is absolutely possible. “When it’s the right surgery for the right patient, mastectomy can be both physically and emotionally empowering.”

4. Myth: Reconstruction or Implant Placement Must Happen During or Immediately After Mastectomy

If you need a mastectomy, you may hear various opinions about the timing of reconstruction.

 Some studies suggest waiting for your mastectomy to heal before you undergo breast reconstruction for better results, but many surgeons recommend having a mastectomy and reconstruction at the same time.

Because the medical results are so similar (though cosmetic results are better with immediate reconstruction), you can base your reconstruction timing choice on personal preference.

 If you’re not sure about reconstruction or when to have it, you can always wait or decide to skip the procedure.

“There are a growing number of patients who prefer a flat closure without reconstruction,” says Cletus A. Arciero, MD, a surgical oncologist, professor of surgery, and the program director of the Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University in Atlanta. “Some want to avoid additional surgery, some feel like their breasts do not define their womanhood, and some feel like a sense of freedom can be achieved by going flat.”

The decision is yours, and your breast surgeon can discuss all your options in depth before you make a final choice.

5. Myth: Breast Reconstruction Is ‘Just Cosmetic’

Some hesitate to ask for a breast reconstruction because they feel it’s only cosmetic and not a vital part of treatment. In the early days of mastectomy procedures, experts worried that reconstruction would lower survival, hide returning cancer, or even spread cancer cells during the operation.

More recent research has found no increase in breast cancer return after reconstruction.

 Breast reconstruction after a mastectomy is not considered cosmetic, and U.S. federal law makes every insurance plan cover it after a medically necessary masectomy.

 You may choose breast reconstruction to feel better about your body after cancer, to avoid using prosthetics in your bra, or to help clothes fit better.

6. Myth: If I Get a Mastectomy I Won’t Need Chemotherapy

Because mastectomy was seen as a breast cancer cure for so long, some people think they won’t need any other treatments with the procedure.

 But needing chemotherapy depends more on your breast cancer type than whether or not you have surgical treatment, says Henkel.

“Two types of breast cancer that are always treated with chemotherapy are triple-negative breast cancer and HER2-positive breast cancer,” says Henkel. For people with hormone-positive (HR+) breast cancer, providers use genetic testing on the tumor to analyze and predict the cancer’s behavior, which tells them which treatments to use, says Henkel.

Along with mastectomy, you may need chemotherapy, hormone-blocking therapy, or even radiation in some situations, says Dr. Arciero. “A multidisciplinary team consisting of a surgeon, a medical oncologist, and a radiation oncologist will help guide a patient to the best approach for their cancer.”

7. Myth: You Can’t Have Reconstruction if You Need Radiation

This myth exists because it can be true in some cases. Radiation treatment uses strong X-rays or similar technology to kill cancer cells, and it can cause side effects in the breast tissue like color changes, skin thickening, and sores.

 Breast reconstruction after mastectomy can have more complications if you’ve had radiation therapy, but experts don’t always agree on the best solution.

If you have radiation side effects, your provider may recommend a different type of reconstruction than if you had no side effects.

 To learn your options for reconstruction after radiation, ask your doctor, who will suggest the best and safest choice.

The Takeaway

  • Early practices around mastectomy for breast cancer have fueled many myths about this surgical treatment option.
  • Common mastectomy myths suggest you must always have a complete mastectomy, you won’t need chemo if you’ve had a mastectomy, and that breast reconstruction is only cosmetic.
  • Your choice of mastectomy or breast reconstruction is a personal one, and your doctor can help you create a treatment plan that keeps you safe and helps you feel good about your body.

Resources We Trust

EDITORIAL SOURCES
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Resources
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Lisa D. Curcio, MD, FACS

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor
Lisa Curcio, MD, is a board-certified general surgeon and a fellowship-trained surgical oncologist. She is currently the medical director of breast surgery at Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck, New York. Dr. Curcio attended George Washington University Medical School in Washington, D.C., where she also completed a residency in general surgery. She was invited to fellowship training in cancer surgery at City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, California. She was the recipient of the competitive U.S. Air Force Health Professions Scholarship Program. During her military commitment, Dr. Curcio served in the military as chief surgical oncologist at Keesler Medical Center in Biloxi, Mississippi. 

From 2003 to 2004, she served as program director for Susan G. Komen in Orange County and remains involved with Komen outreach efforts. She was on the board of Kids Konnected, a nonprofit that helps children of cancer patients deal with the emotional fallout of a cancer diagnosis. Currently, she is on the board at Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing support services for people affected by breast cancer in New York's Hudson Valley. Dr. Curcio also has a strong background in breast cancer research, having contributed to dozens of peer-reviewed articles. She is currently a member of the Alpha Investigational Review Board.

Her practice includes benign and malignant breast diagnoses. Dr. Curcio was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 37. Although her fellowship training was in surgical oncology, this experience motivated her to provide compassionate, high level breast care and to focus on breast surgery.

Dr. Curcio is passionate about treating the patient and individualizing the care plan to their specific needs. Dr. Curcio strongly believes that cancer care must include lifestyle changes to focus on healthier habits to reduce future events. Her practice also focuses on breast cancer risk reduction, education, and access to genetic testing for patients with a family history of breast cancer.
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Abby McCoy, RN

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Abby McCoy is an experienced registered nurse who has worked with adults and pediatric patients encompassing trauma, orthopedics, home care, transplant, and case management. She is a married mother of four and loves the circus — that is her home! She has family all over the world, and loves to travel as much as possible.

McCoy has written for publications like Remedy Health Media, Sleepopolis, and Expectful. She is passionate about health education and loves using her experience and knowledge in her writing.

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