Breast health leader in Chicago

The second most common form of cancer in women is breast cancer. With our advanced technology and diagnostic tools, we can help make sure breast cancer is caught early, when it’s most treatable. 

Advocate Health Care treats more people with breast cancer symptoms than any other health care provider in Illinois. This experience, combined with our compassionate approach, makes us the source for breast health you can trust. We offer the highest level of care close to home in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs – from genetic testing to access to clinical trials.

Breast cancer types

The four main types of breast cancer are ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) and invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC). Invasive ductal carcinomas and invasive lobular carcinomas are the most common types.

These types of breast cancer are identified based on where the cancer starts and whether it’s invasive (has spread to other parts of the breast). Most breast cancers start in parts of the breast that make milk – the ducts and lobules. The lobules are glands that make milk and the ducts are tubes that carry milk from the lobules to the nipple.

Different types of breast cancer are similar in men and women. Learn about breast cancer in men.

What are the symptoms of breast cancer?

The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass in one of your breasts. Other symptoms are:

• Swelling of all or part of a breast
• Skin dimpling
• Pain of the breast or nipple
• Nipple retraction (pulling inward)
• Red, dry, flaking or thickened skin of the nipple or breast
• Nipple discharge
• Swollen lymph nodes under the arm or near the collar bone

Although any of these breast cancer symptoms may also be present without cancer, it’s important to have them checked by your doctor.

Heartwarming celebration: Lavina rings in a new chapter of her life after breast cancer treatment at Advocate.