The aim is to treat any malignant disease in the breast. It is done by removing the breast. You will usually end up with a fine scar running across the chest wall. The breast and nipple can always be rebuilt, usually at a later date.The second aim is to find out whether there are malignant cells in the rest of the body. If so, then treatment with hormones or chemotherapy would be of help. Simply taking out the diseased part from the breast and using x-ray treatment for the rest of the breast is an alternative.