Breast Cancer Treatments and Technologies

At City of Hope^® Cancer Center Chicago, located in Northern Illinois, and our Illinois outpatient care locations, we provide specialized, collaborative care to treat all stages of breast cancer, including high-risk, advanced stage and recurrent disease.

We offer a wide range of services for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, including:

Diagnostics

• 3D screening mammography (digital breast tomosynthesis)
• Diagnostic mammography and tomosynthesis
• Stereotactic-guided breast biopsy and localizations
• Supplemental screening breast ultrasound for patients with dense breasts
• Targeted breast and axillary ultrasound
• Ultrasound-guided breast and axillary biopsy and localizations
• Diagnostic breast MRI
• High-risk screening breast MRI for patients with elevated lifetime breast cancer risk
• Breast MRI for implant evaluation to evaluate for rupture
• MRI-guided breast biopsy

Breast Cancer Surgery and Reconstruction

• Breast conservation surgery with oncoplastic reconstruction
• Minimally invasive hidden scar technique
• Nipple- and areola-sparing mastectomy
• Skin-sparing mastectomy
• Sensation-preserving mastectomy
• Intraoperative margin assessment via ultrasound and direct pathologic evaluation by pathologist and breast surgeon
• Sentinel lymph node biopsy and axillary lymph node dissection
• Downstaging of the axilla with neoadjuvant chemotherapy
• Intraoperative local anesthetic blocks/opioid reduction
• Immediate and delayed breast reconstruction
• Direct-to-implant reconstruction
• Microvascular reconstruction (DIEP flap, SIEA flap, thigh-based flaps)
• Prepectoral implant breast reconstruction

Breast Multidisciplinary Tumor Boards

Breast Research/Clinical Trials

• Phase 3 clinical trials
• Phase 1b/Phase 2 trials
• Molecularly-based (precision medicine) trials
• Immunotherapy-based trials
• Cooperative group trials
• Quality of life trials

View all open breast clinical trials

Fertility Evaluation

Breast Medical Oncology

• Neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy
• Neoadjuvant and adjuvant endocrine therapy
• Medical risk reduction
• Immunotherapy
• Targeted therapies

Precision Medicine

• Genetic counseling and testing
• Comprehensive genomic profiling
• Liquid biopsy
• Genomic-targeted therapies

Lymphedema Management

• Vascularized lymph node transfer surgery
• Lymphaticovenular bypass surgery
• Immediate lymphatic reconstruction
• Reverse lymphatic mapping
• Multidisciplinary approach to lymphedema prevention, early detection and management, including treatment by licensed lymphedema specialist

Breast Pathology

• First-time diagnosis of malignancy confirmed by second pathologist
• Second opinion review
• Intraoperative tissue evaluation
• Intraoperative sentinel lymph node evaluation
• Repeated hormonal receptors for resected tumors

Our pathology team provides rapid diagnostic reporting, with breast core biopsy results available within 72 hours and final pathology for lumpectomy and mastectomy specimens delivered within five days.

Breast Radiation Oncology

• Deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH)
• Hypofractionated whole breast radiation
• Accelerated partial breast radiation therapy (APBI)
• Comprehensive regional nodal radiation
• Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT)
• Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
• Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT)
• Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)
• Stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT)
• Superficial hyperthermia
• Surface guidance radiation therapy (SGRT)
• Ultra-hypofractionated radiation therapy

Integrative and Supportive Care Services

• Survivorship
• Nutritional support
• Prehabilitation and post-op rehabilitation
• Naturopathic support
• Behavioral health (including mind-body, music therapy, meditation)
• Lymphedema patient education and screening
• Oncology psychiatrists and counseling support
• Spiritual support
• Breast cancer navigators and oncology licensed social workers

Treatment offerings may vary by location.