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High-risk breast cancer care in Illinois
Ascension Saint Joseph Chicago - UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center provides prevention and screening for women at risk for breast cancer.
High-risk breast cancer care in Illinois
Ascension Saint Joseph Chicago - UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center provides prevention and screening for women at risk for breast cancer.
About high-risk breast cancer care at Ascension Illinois
Being at high-risk for developing breast cancer can leave you with questions and uncertainty. At Ascension Saint Joseph Chicago - UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center, your doctor and care team are here to listen, support you and answer your questions. Understanding your risk and getting recommended screenings may help detect cancer early. Your care team works with you to create a personalized care plan and connect you to the care that you need.
Support for women at risk for breast cancer
The Ascension Illinois Cancer Prevention and Wellness Program is dedicated to helping women manage their breast health through prevention and monitoring. Women who may benefit from this program include those with:
- A family history of breast cancer
- A known genetic mutation, such as BRCA1, BRCA2 and other breast cancer-related genes
- A history of abnormal breast biopsies
- Prior radiation exposure to the chest
- Other breast cancer risks factors
Comprehensive high-risk breast care
Our comprehensive Cancer Prevention and Wellness Program provides care plans tailored to your individual risk. Breast specialists perform risk assessments to help determine your lifetime risk for breast cancer. Based on your risk, our dedicated Advanced Practice Provider (APP) breast-certified women’s health nurse practitioner supports you with next steps for early detection and long-term breast health.
If breast cancer is detected, you’ll have access to a team of breast surgeons and cancer specialists who work together to create a treatment plan that’s right for you.
The Cancer Prevention and Wellness Program includes:
- Advanced imaging
- Breast health education
- Clinical breast exam
- Genetic counseling and testing
- Lifestyle counseling
- Risk-reducing therapies
Breast cancer is often more treatable when found early. Women at high-risk can benefit from more frequent and advanced screening, such as breast MRI in addition to mammography.
Personalized wellness plan
Your Ascension Illinois doctors and care teams focus on your overall wellness. They work with you to create a personalized wellness plan that supports your health goals. With health coaching and goal setting, your wellness plan may include:
- Enhanced screening and testing to help detect cancer
- Genetic counseling and testing
- Health coaching and goal setting
- A plan for follow-up care and communication with your primary care provider
- Referrals to other specialists for treatment of risk factors identified during assessment
- Risk-reducing medication management, if appropriate
- Risk-reducing surgery or interventions, if appropriate
Our care team shares your wellness plan with your primary care doctor and helps connect you to specialists that support your optimal wellbeing.
To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call 773-665-8428. Virtual visits may be available.
How we diagnose breast cancer
Cancer specialists who know you and your condition review your treatment and progress. Your care team focuses on identifying whether the tumor is noninvasive or invasive, determining where the tumor began and whether the cancer has spread. We use advanced molecular and genetic testing to help guide treatment planning.
To diagnose breast cancer, your doctor may recommend testing, such as:
The latest imaging supports mammogram screening and diagnostic tests for advanced care, including 3D mammograms, breast ultrasound, abbreviated breast MRI and magnetic seed and needle (wire) localization biopsy.
Blood tests can give your doctor a lot of information. They can detect whether certain elements in your blood are in a normal range, and can help confirm or rule out certain conditions.
If you have a higher risk or family history of cancer, your doctor may recommend genetic screening, testing or counseling.
Call to schedule an appointment:
- Bartlett: 847-755-3273
- Chicago: 773-665-8070
- Elk Grove Village: 847-952-7929
At Ascension Illinois, we offer a comprehensive approach to identifying and monitoring an individual’s risk for developing breast cancer.
Breast biopsy tests are used to evaluate breast cells and help your doctor confirm your diagnosis and cancer stage.
How we treat breast cancer
Your treatment options for breast cancer may include medication, therapy or surgery.
Breast reconstruction is surgery to create a new breast shape in place of a breast that has been removed (mastectomy). It can be done with implants or with tissue from another part of your body. Sometimes both are used to rebuild a breast shape. The breast mound created comes as close as possible to the shape and look of a natural breast.
Surgery may be done to reconstruct either one breast (unilateral) or both breasts (bilateral). The goal of the unilateral reconstruction is to create a breast mound that matches the other breast. If both breasts have been removed, the goal of the surgery is to create both breast mounds about the size of your natural breasts.
This type of surgery, also known as a lumpectomy or partial mastectomy, only removes the tumor in its entirety. The goal of this surgery is to remove the cancer, while saving as much of the healthy breast tissue as possible. Our surgeons can discuss immediate breast reconstruction, including consultation with a plastic surgeon.
Hormones are chemicals made by glands, like the thyroid, pancreas, adrenal glands, ovaries and testicles. Hormones help some types of cancer cells grow. Some cancers that might be sensitive to hormones and be treated with hormone therapy include breast, prostate, thyroid, endometrial, and adrenal cancers. Hormone therapy can make the cancer cells grow more slowly or stop them from growing.
As a cancer treatment, hormone therapy may mean taking medicines that block the activity of the hormone, prevent the body from producing the hormone or alter the hormone. Sometimes hormone therapy involves surgically removing the gland that's making the hormones.
During a mastectomy, your surgeon removes all or part of your breast or breasts to treat breast cancer. There are several types of mastectomy, including total mastectomy and partial mastectomy. Your breast surgeon will discuss your options with you.
Specially trained physical therapists deliver therapy to help manage lymphedema symptoms, such as swelling and pain.
Advanced radiation therapy is used to target and destroy cancer cells while preserving the surrounding healthy tissue.
Your cancer care team provides support from nutrition education and counseling to breast cancer support groups and spiritual care. At Ascension Saint Joseph Chicago - UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center , our healing gardens and chapels are always open to patients and your loved ones. We offer supportive care and activities for the whole you. For more information:
CALL 844-952-4673 for Alexian Brother and Saint Alexius
Call (773) 665-9920 for Saint Joseph- Chicago
Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that boosts your body’s immune system to help it recognize and attack cancer cells. It uses substances that are either made in the body or in a lab to shrink tumors or slow tumor growth.
Get a second opinion on your cancer diagnosis or care plan
Get the confidence and peace of mind that your doctor and care plan are right for you. It's easy to get a second opinion at Ascension Saint Joseph Chicago - UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center. We can review your medical records and healthcare history to answer your questions and discuss options. When you’re facing a new breast cancer diagnosis or are deciding on a surgical or therapeutic treatment plan, there’s a lot to think about. Our Chicago breast cancer specialists can provide a second opinion, based on our experience and as part of a national team of care.
Before your appointment, check with your insurance company to find out if a second opinion is covered. We can request your medical records on your behalf, so they can be shared with your care team before your arrival.
Frequently asked questions about our breast cancer care services
At Ascension Saint Joseph Chicago - UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center, your doctor and care team get to know you well, and you’ll receive care for the whole person — from physical health and well-being to mental and emotional health to support for your family and caregivers. We provide innovative medication treatments, the latest surgical technologies and techniques, high-tech radiation facilities and support services. Our breast surgeons are part of a national team of cancer specialists sharing the latest in cancer care knowledge and research.
Getting regular breast health screenings and health check-ups may help find breast cancer early, when it’s most treatable. We recommend women get a mammogram each year, starting at age 40, or earlier if you have a family history of breast cancer. When you choose women’s health and breast specialists at Ascension Saint Joseph Chicago - UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center for your care, you are connected to all the care you need — from routine screenings to advanced care.
We can connect you with resources and programs that may be able to help you and your family with options for financial assistance. Our financial counseling team is here to listen to your concerns and work with you to help find options that meet your needs. Your cancer care navigator can connect you to a financial counselor.
At Ascension Illinois cancer center and clinics, we offer convenient parking. Talk to your care team if you have transportation needs
Surgical oncologists and anesthesiologists provide enhanced recovery pathways as part of your surgical care plan. They are an important part of our cancer treatment programs. Each pathway is personalized for different types of cancer treatment, to help speed up your recovery after surgery. Your care team uses these protocols to help you prepare for what to expect before, during and after surgery.
This service requires a referral
To learn how to get a referral, call:
- Ascension Saint Joseph Chicago — UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center: 773-665-9920
- Ascension Alexian Brothers and Ascension Saint Alexius — Cancer Center: CALL 844-952-HOPE (4673) If your doctor is referring you, they can use these same phone numbers to get everything set up.
Ascension Saint Joseph Chicago - UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center
2845 North Sheridan Rd #1300
Chicago, IL 60657
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or call 911.
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