OAK BROOK, Ill. — October 27, 2025 — Breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women in their lifetime, but early detection can make all the difference. For Michaela Del Barrio, a 37-year-old mother of two from Elmhurst, Ill., a high-risk breast cancer assessment led to the diagnosis she feared—but caught early enough to change her outcome.

“I have a family history that I was aware of,” Del Barrio said. “In my 20s, I brought it up to doctors and was usually told I was too young. But I kept asking.”

After she had her second child at the age of 35, Del Barrio brought up her family history again with her OB-GYN and primary care doctor. When she finished breast-feeding her son, they ordered her first mammogram.

That scan came back clear, but they also referred Del Barrio to a high-risk breast clinic at Northwestern Medicine Oak Brook Outpatient Center.

Getting a high-risk breast cancer assessment

Del Barrio made an appointment to see Spring Piatek, APRN, a clinical nurse specialist, who walked Del Barrio through an assessment and physical exam.

During a patient’s visit to the high-risk breast clinic, a risk assessment will begin with a review of medical and family history, as well as a clinical breast exam. A specially trained breast health specialist will use that information and assessment tools to estimate the risk for developing breast cancer and suggest a personalized screening program. Other services including breast imaging, genetic counseling or surgery can also be advised.

The Tyrer-Cuzick risk assessment tool, used in all of Northwestern Medicine’s high-risk breast clinics, calculates a woman’s lifetime risk based on family history and other factors. A score of 20% or higher qualifies for additional screenings.

Michaela learned her lifetime risk was 22%—qualifying her for enhanced screening, including a breast MRI.

Receiving a cancer diagnosis

Del Barrio underwent the breast MRI in January 2025, which revealed two suspicious masses that were not detected in her mammogram eight months earlier.

The masses were biopsied, and Del Barrio was diagnosed with early-stage invasive ductal carcinoma.

Annabelle Veerapaneni, MD, an oncologist at Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Oak Brook says enhanced imaging through an MRI can make a difference, particularly for younger women with dense breast tissue.

“Breast imaging with an MRI is going to be much more sensitive and pick up things that a mammogram would not. Given the fact that she's premenopausal, when women are young, dense breast tissue can make it very challenging to identify lesions on a routine mammogram,” Veerapaneni said.

“When women meet the criteria for breast MRI imaging, it’s crucial they proceed with those recommendations,” she said.

Family history can lead to a high-risk assessment

Dr. Veerapaneni said it’s important for women to know their family history of cancer and other diseases.

“I have heard of instances where young women say their concerns were downplayed by other health care providers or even family members and other loved ones because they say, ‘You're too young to get it,” Veerapaneni said.

She stresses that women advocate for themselves and seek medical attention if they have concerns.

“That's the reason why we have these high-risk breast clinics,” Veerapaneni said. “Michaela did the absolute right thing. A lot of people are aware of a family history and want to make sure. Michaela recognized she was at higher risk and advocated for herself.”

Making mom’s health a priority

Del Barrio hopes her story encourages others to act. “I’m just trying to pay it forward,” she said. “If I had waited until I was 40, I don’t even know what would have happened.”

“For women under 40 with small children, it feels like there isn’t enough time to take care of yourself,” Del Barrio said. “But the most important thing you can do for your family is to prioritize yourself.”

Northwestern Medicine Breast Health Program

To help women determine when they should be screened for breast cancer, Northwestern Medicine offers an online assessment.

By answering a few questions, you can assess your risk for breast cancer and make an appointment with a Northwestern Medicine Breast Health specialist, if necessary. For more information or to find a high risk breast clinic near you, visit the Northwestern Medicine Breast Risk Assessment and Prevention Program website.

To learn more about Northwestern Medicine, please visit nm.org.

OAK BROOK, Ill. — October 20, 2025 — Just weeks after learning she was pregnant with her fourth child, Stephanie Wysaski of Naperville watched a segment on television about the importance of breast self-exams— something she rarely did.

“I thought, ‘I guess I should do that. Why not?’ And sure enough, I found a lump,” said Wysaski.

Still nursing her then-11-month-old and newly pregnant, Wysaski wasn’t worried.  Figuring it was hormones, but she brought it up to her OB-GYN at her pregnancy confirmation appointment.

“She wasn't concerned either but ordered an ultrasound as a precaution. And then, sure enough, the ultrasound showed something they didn't recognize, which led to a mammogram, biopsy, and then I got the diagnosis.”

At eight weeks pregnant, Wysaski was diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma in her left breast.

Treating breast cancer during pregnancy

Wysaski turned to Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Oak Brook, where she met Annabelle Veerapaneni, MD, a medical oncologist.

“It's definitely not a common scenario, treating a pregnant woman who also has cancer, but it's one that we have seen in the past, and one that I'm familiar with, unfortunately,” Veerapaneni said.

She assured Wysaski there are treatment options that would not harm her baby.

“The only way out is through,” Wysaski said. “I have great doctors. They've been really supportive about the pregnancy and making sure that the baby's safe, that I'm comfortable, and we're doing all that we can and managing it as best we can.”

Understanding Invasive Lobular Carcinoma

Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) accounts for approximately 10-15% of all breast cancer cases and is the second most common type of invasive breast cancer.

“The majority of invasive breast cancers that we usually see are considered invasive ductal carcinomas, and they present in a certain way where you can identify a discrete mass on breast imaging,” Dr. Veerapaneni said.

“Invasive lobular carcinoma can be very tricky to identify because it is not readily seen on mammograms, and there's an insidious nature in the way that it can spread throughout the breast tissue, so breast MRI is very helpful,” Dr. Veerapaneni said.

Wysaski’s pregnancy, however, left the clinical team unable to optimize imaging to learn the extent of her disease.

“It's very challenging to assess disease extent without the IV contrast, and we were unable to give it safely during her pregnancy,” Dr. Veerapaneni said.

Surgery and unexpected Findings

To remove the mass that was detected on standard imaging, Wysaski underwent a lumpectomy with Faaiza Vaince, MD, a Northwestern Medicine breast surgeon. While in surgery, Vaince unexpectedly found what looked like tendrils attached to the mass.

“The lump, or the mass, was a little bit bigger than we thought, but the imaging hadn’t shown those tendrils that were growing out from it as well,” Wysaski said.

 Once those tendrils were biopsied, it was determined they were cancerous as well.

Chemotherapy while pregnant

Wysaski is currently undergoing four rounds of two specific types of chemotherapy which are safe during pregnancy.

“We're treating her with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide, which has been shown to be safe whenever we administer it after the first trimester. She's tolerated her treatment very, very well,” Dr. Veerapaneni said.

Wysaski has experienced hair loss and fatigue from the chemotherapy infusions which are spaced three weeks apart to maximize the medications’ effectiveness before the baby is born.

Dr. Veerapaneni is in regular contact with Wysaski’s OB-GYN and a local Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) team, which is monitoring the growing baby.

“It's unexpected and it's hard, but the baby's healthy and I'm going to be okay. We are doing what we have to do,” Wysaski said.

Planning for an early delivery

While the baby, a little girl, is not due until early December, the decision has been made for Wysaski to deliver early, at 34 weeks, enabling her to continue aggressive treatment. She’s expected to be induced in late October.

“Once the baby has been delivered, she will undergo diagnostic imaging to help clarify how much disease we're dealing with,” Dr. Veerapaneni said.

Already a mother to three children ages 6, 4 and 14 months, Wysaski acknowledges the uncertainty ahead is challenging.

“It's a lot thinking about having a newborn, possibly a preemie in the NICU, and then possibly surgery, probably more chemo and then radiation,” Wysaski said.

“She is being treated with curative intent. It will be incredibly challenging with a newborn and then a young family as well, but she definitely has exhibited the strength and the fortitude to be able to carry through with everything,” Dr. Veerapaneni said.

About Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Oak Brook

Anchored by the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Oak Brook brings together highly skilled caregivers at one west suburban location.

With a state-of-the-art infusion center, an on-site infusion pharmacy and lab, PET/CT/MRI imaging on site, the Cancer Center Oak Brook offers comprehensive care from early diagnosis through treatment and aftercare.

“The opportunity to be able to take care of patients in a multidisciplinary fashion with all of these resources available is something that's incredibly important to me, and especially whenever we’re able to do that for patients closer to their homes,” Dr. Veerapaneni said.

“It makes it a lot easier having to come to so many appointments. I'm here every week, sometimes twice a week, so it makes a big difference,” Wysaski said.

To learn more about the Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Oak Brook, visit nm.org.

In the United States, breast cancer incidence in Hispanic women is 28 percent lower than in non-Hispanic white women, who have the highest incidence rate. Despite these lower occurrence rates, Hispanic women are more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer and have a 30 percent higher mortality rate highlighting the significant health disparities this population faces when it comes to accessing high-quality breast cancer care and screening.  

“What we see in the Hispanic community is that the women are being diagnosed at later stages, even though their diagnosis tends to be at a younger age,” says Claudia Tellez, MD, a medical oncologist at Lurie Cancer Center at Northwestern Medicine. “And because they’re being diagnosed at a later stage, their cancers are generally more aggressive, and the prognosis is less favorable.” 

Dr. Tellez is working to change this by breaking down barriers and providing Chicago’s Hispanic women with better access to breast cancer screening, treatment and research with the recently launched Lurie Cancer Center Hispanic Breast Cancer Clinic at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.  

“Many Hispanic women in Chicago struggle to access care or are not receiving the highest standard of care because of language barriers, financial limitations and other factors,” says Dr. Tellez, medical director of the new clinic. “Our team is dedicated to addressing these disparities and improving access by providing culturally sensitive care, bilingual support, and educational resources tailored to the needs of Hispanic patients.”  

Led by Dr. Tellez, who is a native of Colombia, the Hispanic Breast Cancer Clinic offers personalized care from a multidisciplinary team of breast cancer experts, supportive care specialists and administrative staff who all speak Spanish. The core clinic team includes a physician, nurse, medical assistant, social worker and research assistant.  

“Getting a breast cancer diagnosis is scary and overwhelming – even more so when you can’t access care in your preferred language,” says Dr. Tellez. “Patients who come to us can expect a safe and welcoming environment where each person they encounter – starting from their first phone call through their treatment – will speak Spanish. We want every patient to be confident in her treatment plan and feel comfortable communicating with a care team that embraces her culture and speaks her preferred language.”  

One of Dr. Tellez’s goals with the new clinic is to increase the number of Hispanic patients participating in clinical trials for breast cancer, an area where they are consistently underrepresented.  

“Breast cancer patients that are Hispanic represent about a third in the city of Chicago. A third of the patients that we’re seeing for clinical trials should be Hispanic,” says Dr. Tellez “And yet, we see less than 10 percent Hispanic patients participating in clinical trials in the city of Chicago. And for pharmaceutical company trials, it’s even lower at around 2.5 percent.” 

In addition to often being diagnosed younger and with later stage cancers, Hispanic women are at higher-risk for triple-negative breast cancer and HER-2 positive breast cancer, aggressive subtypes of the disease that require a targeted, specific treatment plan.  

“There are distinctive features about Hispanic women with breast cancer. For instance, they have subtypes of breast cancer that are unique, and we need to be aware of that and treat them accordingly,” says Dr. Tellez. “Participation in clinical trials often means access to new drugs or treatments that aren’t available otherwise. More participation and representation also create an opportunity for clinical trials that are very specific to those subtypes, such as triple negative, and can help improve treatments for the disease.”       

Community outreach and partnerships with Hispanic health advocates will be an important element to the success of the new Hispanic Breast Cancer Clinic.  

 “We’re working with community groups and health advocates who are known and trusted in the community. Together, we want to ensure that Hispanic women are knowledgeable about the importance of regular screenings and early detection,” says Dr. Tellez. “And if they need care, we’re here and ready to help. Our goal is to ensure that every patient who walks through our door has the information, education and resources needed for the best possible outcome in their breast cancer journey,”  

On Saturday, October 28, Dr. Tellez will participate in Lurie Cancer Center’s annual Breast Cancer Community Forum for Hispanic women. The event will feature educational presentations in Spanish about breast cancer, followed by an interactive discussion with a panel of experts who will answer questions about treatments, surgeries, as well as the emotions and challenges faced by cancer survivors. The event is free and open to the public. Register online: Foro Comunitario Sobre Cáncer de Seno.  

To schedule an appointment with the Hispanic Breast Cancer Clinic, call our Spanish-speaking patient liaison at 312.472.0805 (TTY: 711) or visit the clinic's website in Spanish or English.

B-ROLL, SOUNDBITES & PHOTOS: Hispanic Breast Cancer Clinic - Dropbox 

VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL DEL COMUNICADO DE PRENSA: El Centro Oncológico Lurie lanza una clínica hispana de cáncer de mama en el Northwestern Memorial Hospital
 
For more information about Northwestern Medicine, visit https://news.nm.org/.