Her mission is to always “be learning, be open to everything, and put the patients first.”
A Gradual Journey into Specialization
Dr. Compagnoni trained as a general surgeon and has been practicing for more than 25 years. Over time, she found her passion in breast surgery. “I picked what my passion was, and when the opportunity presented itself, I was ready to make the change,” she explained.
That transition happened gradually. “When I left my old practice, I was already doing about 80% breast surgery,” she recalled. Specializing fully allowed her to concentrate her efforts and no longer feel “pulled in so many directions.” She added, “There are so many advances and so much new literature—it’s impossible to stay on top of everything unless you focus.”
Changes in Breast Cancer Care Over the Years
Over her years in practice, Dr. Compagnoni has witnessed a clear shift toward more individualized, precision-based medicine. “Twenty-five years ago, the criteria for chemotherapy treatment were much broader,” she explained. “You met three criteria, and it was chemo. It was just so generalized.”
Today, treatment looks very different. “Each patient’s care plan is personalized and tailored to their specific cancer,” she said. “Genomics now plays a huge role—helping guide decisions not only for chemotherapy, from a systemic standpoint, but also for radiation.”
“De-escalation is the buzzword these days,” she added. “We’re never the same after any type of surgery, radiation, or medication. The goal is to offer only what we know will make a meaningful difference for our patients—and the more data points we have to guide those decisions, the better.”
Dr. Compagnoni has also seen how advances in precision medicine and overall healthcare have changed the health and longevity of her patients. “When I started practicing 25 years ago, 70 was old,” she reflected. “Now we’re caring for many patients in their 80s who are in great shape and living active, healthy lives.”
Insights into Radiation with DCISionRT and AidaBreastTM
DCISionRT and the new AidaBreast test for early-stage invasive are empowering her and her team to continue to offer more individualized care for patients.
Dr. Compagnoni orders DCISionRT for nearly all her patients with DCIS—“every patient, with very few exceptions.” She has been using the test for about five years, both at her previous practice and now at Bartlett Breast Care. “The results come back very quickly, and by the time patients are meeting with radiation oncology, everything aligns perfectly,” she said.
In addition, she serves as an early access provider for AidaBreast, a new test that provides insights into the benefit of radiation therapy for Stage I or IIa invasive breast cancer.
“We always have to keep learning and stay open to new developments,” Dr. Compagnoni emphasized. “It’s important to be thoughtful—don’t just accept everything, but really look at what’s out there. Evaluate the data, ask if it’s sound, if it’s helpful for patients, and if there’s any potential harm. Then find ways to incorporate the innovations that truly make a difference.”
She also expressed appreciation for the collaboration with PreludeDx. “The team is incredibly knowledgeable, and it’s a partnership I truly value,” she shared. “You can sit down with them for an hour and learn what might take me several hours to research online. They point me to the right studies and the evidence behind the tests.”
Comprehensive and Personalized Care
Easy access to her all-women team is a cornerstone of the personalized, comprehensive care patients receive at Bartlett Breast Care, located just outside Chicago. Dr. Compagnoni and her team care for patients with breast cancer as well as those experiencing other breast concerns such as abscesses, pain, or cysts.
First appointments with newly diagnosed breast cancer patients at the Bartlett Breast Center are unhurried and designed to provide education, support, and resources right from the start. It isn’t unusual for these appointments to last up to two hours. Dr. Compagnoni noted that by the end of these sessions, “we’ve covered the full range of options and begun focusing on the path best suited to each patient.”
She acknowledges that finding answers and developing a care plan can take time. “We really want people to feel hopeful,” she said. “In today’s world, where everything is instant—just point, click, and your package arrives in ten hours—medicine doesn’t work that way. This process takes time. We’re data-gatherers and decision-makers, and our patients are never alone. From start to finish, they’re surrounded by our entire office and hospital team, and we want them to feel that support.”
That support extends beyond clinical care. “Comprehensive support means giving patients access to us,” Dr. Compagnoni explained. “So many of my patients have my cell phone number, and they reach out with questions that matter to them. We want them to know they can always ask.”
Dr. Compagnoni also recognizes that patients often need more than medical care alone. Her team helps connect them with additional services such as nutrition counseling, physical therapy, wigs, transportation, clothing, and financial assistance—ensuring that every patient knows about the full range of support available at Bartlett Breast Care.
While she is not caring for patients, Dr. Compagnoni prioritizes her own well-being by staying active through hiking, skiing, and gardening. She also enjoys cooking, watching sports and theatre, reading, and spending time with her husband and grown children.
Thank you, Dr. Compagnoni, for sharing your insights as part of our Women Treating Women series.
You can learn more about Dr. Compagnoni and the Bartlett Breast Center here.
