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Prevention & Early Detection
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Early Screening Can Save Your Life...Or The Life of Someone You Love
The Bryn Mawr Hospital Cancer Center is committed to cancer prevention and education. Research suggests that your risk of
developing many cancers may be reduced through proper nutrition, exercise and avoiding substances like tobacco and alcohol.
And most cancers can be treated and managed successfully with early detection. That's why we routinely offer free screenings
and seminars to inform and educate the community about cancer prevention strategies.
Bryn Mawr and the other hospitals of Main Line Health offer a wide variety of education programs and community screenings
for breast, skin, prostate and colorectal cancers. More information can be found on our Events Calendar and our Health-e Neighbors Cancer Programs page.
Why Cancer Screenings Can Make A Difference
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S.
- Certain common cancers can be found at an earlier, more curable stage by searching or "screening" for evidence of cancer in
healthy adults.
- Some people are anxious about undergoing tests that could lead to a cancer diagnosis. However, we ask that you help us find
cancer as early as possible by visiting your doctor for routine exams and cancer screening.
- Screening tests are not foolproof, and only improve the cure rates for certain cancers.
- If a screening test is abnormal, you will be advised to undergo a more detailed evaluation to check for cancer.
Some cancers do not initially cause any symptoms, so routine screening by your physician is the best way to identify cancer
in its earliest stages. Even if your screening tests are normal, please notify your physician if new symptoms such as lumps,
blood in urine or stool, changes in bowel habits, new or persistent cough, changes in moles, etc.
- Cervical Cancer: Studies show a 60-90% decrease in the cervical cancer death rate with routine pap smears.
Screening Recommendations:
- Annual pap smear after the age of 18 for all sexually active women.
- For low risk women who have had three annual, consecutive normal pap smears, two or three years is acceptable.
- Skin Cancer: More than 800,000 new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year. Although most of these cancers can be easily treated,
some melanoma skin cancers can be fatal.
Screening Recommendations:
- Have your doctor examine your skin at the time of your routine physical exam.
- Perform self-exam for changes in color, thickness, shape, size or other changes in moles, and report these to your doctor.
- Breast Cancer: Screening can lower the death rate from breast cancer by one-third.
Screening Recommendations:
- Mammogram and physician-performed breast exam every year after age 40.
- A normal mammogram does not eliminate the possibility of breast cancer. Therefore, you should also perform monthly self-breast
exam for new lumps/thickening, skin redness or other changes.
- Prostate Cancer: Screening can identify prostate cancer at an earlier stage, and this may increase the cure rate.
Screening Recommendations:
- Yearly digital rectal exam and the PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) test should be considered beginning at age 50.
- Earlier screening may be indicated for high-risk individuals (African-Americans and those with a family history of prostate
cancer).
- Colorectal Cancer: Screening can identify precancerous polyps and lower the death rate from colorectal cancer by up to 30%.
Minimum Screening Recommendations:
- Three stool samples for fecal occult blood every year beginning at age 50.
- A flexible sigmoidoscope or colonoscopy study every 3-5 years after age 50. (Age 40 in those with a close relative with colorectal
cancer.)
Other Screening Suggestions
- Family History: Patients with a first-degree relative (sibling, parent or child) with breast, colorectal or prostate cancer should begin
screening at an early age than other individuals. Please discuss your individual screening schedule with your physician.
- Cancer and Smoking: Cessation of smoking is the best way to decrease the risk of lung, head and neck, pancreatic, bladder, and other cancers.
Common Cancer Symptoms
So far, studies have not shown that periodic tests (x-rays, blood tests, etc.) can find other cancers (lung, pancreatic, ovarian,
etc.) early enough in enough patients to require routine testing in individuals without symptoms. You should report the following
symptoms to your doctor:
- Breast Cancer: Breast lump or thickening or nipple discharge.
- Bowel Cancer: Changes in bowel habits or blood in the stool.
- Skin Cancer: Changes in moles, or a sore that doesn't heal.
Other Cancer Symptoms:
- A sore that does not heal on the skin, in the mouth or elsewhere.
- Difficulty swallowing or chronic indigestion.
- Nagging cough or hoarseness.
- Blood in urine or sputum.
- A persistent pain in some body part.
- New lumps.
- Vaginal bleeding in post menopausal women.
- Other changes such as unexplained weight loss, night sweats, etc.
Cancer Risk Assessment and Genetics Program
This program is designed to evaluate an individual's lifetime risk for breast, ovarian, and colorectal cancer using personal,
medical, familial and/or genetic factors. Participants gain an understanding about what it means to be at average, moderate,
or high risk and, as a result, are able to make informed healthcare decisions. This free program (generously supported through
donations) is administered by a certified genetic counselor with oversight by a medical oncologist. Genetic testing, if appropriate,
is also offered and is usually covered by insurance. Learn More!
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The Bryn Mawr Hospital Cancer Center
130 South Bryn Mawr Avenue
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Phone: 610-526-3073
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