May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and dermatologists at Penn Medicine want to spread the lifesaving message of early skin cancer detection and screening by offering free skin cancer screenings in Philadelphia.
Date: Saturday, May 19 2012 Time: 8 am to Noon Location: Department of Dermatology at the Ruth & Raymond Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, 3400 Civic Center Blvd., First floor, Suite 1-330S (South Pavilion), Philadelphia
Know the Facts about Skin Cancer
More than 2 million non-melanoma skin cancers are diagnosed annually.
Basal cell and squamous cell cancers are the two most common forms of skin cancer, but both are easily treated if detected early.
Current estimates are that 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer.
Melanoma is the most common form of cancer for young adults aged 20 to 29.
The American Cancer Society recommends a skin cancer-related checkup and counseling about sun exposure beginning at age 20.
Register for this free skin cancer screening sponsored by Penn Dermatology and Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center by calling 215-662-2737.
The Joan Karnell Cancer Center at Pennsylvania Hospital is offering a free screening for oral, head and neck cancer from 11 am to 3 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012.
Oral, head and neck cancer refers to a variety of cancers that develop in the head and neck region, such as the oral cavity (mouth), the pharynx (throat), paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity, the larynx (voice box), thyroid and salivary glands, the skin of the face and neck, and the lymph nodes in the neck.
Common symptoms of oral, head and neck cancer
Red or white patch in the mouth that lasts more than two weeks
Change in voice or hoarseness that lasts more than two weeks
Sore throat that does not subside
Pain or swelling in the mouth or neck that does not subside
Lump in the neck
Later symptoms of oral, head and neck cancer
Ear pain
Difficulty speaking or swallowing
Difficulty breathing
The most effective prevention strategy continues to be the cessation of behaviors such as smoking, use of chewing tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption. Eighty-five percent of head and neck cancers are related to tobacco use.
Research has linked the increase of oral cancer incidence in young adults, a population traditionally at low risk, to the rise of human papillomavirus (HPV), a cancer-causing virus that can be transmitted through oral sex.
Date: Friday, April 27 2012 Time: 11 am to 3pm Location: Pennsylvania Hospital, Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (adjacent to the Spruce Building) 811 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
To register for this free event, call 800-789-PENN (7366).
Carmen E. Guerra MD, MSCE, Michael L. Kochman, MD, FACP, Alicia Lamanna, Medical Assistant and patient liaison for the program and Josh Ramos, a Penn junior who was awarded a grant to work on the navigation project.
Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Although studies prove that screening reduces colorectal cancer morbidity and mortality and is recommended for everyone over the age of 50, only 60 percent of Americans have been screened.
Penn Medicine’s West Philadelphia GI Health Outreach and Access Program is working to improve the colorectal cancer screening rates in the West Philadelphia community.
The program provides education about colorectal cancer screening and physical navigation through the screening process for people who live in the following zip codes:
19104
19131
19139
19143
19151
Patient navigator, Alicia Lamanna, works with patients on a one-on-one basis and addresses barriers that might prevent them from getting a screening test. She also ensures patients understand the information by using language that is easy to comprehend.
Assisting patients every step of the way
The patient navigation program is committed to providing every patient the assistance and encouragement they need throughout the entire screening process.
The program provides the following:
Help with scheduling a colonoscopy.
Education about the screening including literature, instructions for the screening preparation and motivational information.
Encouragement and support.
Reminder phone calls about the screening appointment.
Instructions for the day of screening.
Transportation assistance.
Accompaniment to and from the screening exam.
With financial support from the American Cancer Society and the Walmart Foundation, the program provides Miralax-Crystal Light bowel prep at no cost for patients who are unable to afford the cost of the prep, along with round-trip Septa tokens for the patient and companion to help them get to and from the procedure.
Finally, one week after the procedure, Alicia, communicates the physician's findings and recommendations both verbally and in writing to everyone who participates in the screening.
To qualify for the program patients must:
Be between the ages of 50 and 75
Live in one of the five participating West Philadelphia zip codes
Have an order or prescription for a colonoscopy from your Penn primary care physician
Whether the reasons are financial, insurance or personal — such as being embarrassed or nervous — that keep someone from getting a colorectal screening, the outreach program provides the assistance needed to obtain this life-saving screening.
To learn more about the program, please call the patient navigation office at 215-439-8281 or email Alicia Lamanna at Alicia.lamanna@upenn.uphs.edu.
Cary B. Aarons, MD, is an assistant professor of surgery in colon and rectal surgery. In this blog, he discusses colorectal cancer, it’s causes, screening and treatment options, including surgery.
Among adults, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States. It is also the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths every year.
These statistics generally mean very little to the average person until they are faced with a colorectal cancer diagnosis. Then, at least initially, nothing else seems more significant.
Fortunately, the overall prognosis is quite favorable if colorectal cancer is discovered early. Up to 90 percent of patients whose colorectal cancer is diagnosed and treated in the early stages can be cured.
Most colon and rectal cancers begin as adenomas, or small polyps, that can progress over time and invade the wall of the bowel. In their later stages, colon and rectal cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body.
Know your risk for colorectal cancer
Roughly 75 percent of colorectal cancers occur in individuals who have an average risk of developing the disease. However, certain factors have been identified that can increase your risk, including:
Age: Most people diagnosed with colorectal cancer are over 50.
A personal history of colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer
Inflammatory bowel disease: Chronic inflammatory diseases of the colon, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, can increase the risk of colorectal cancer.
Family history of colorectal cancer: First-degree relatives of individuals with colorectal cancer are at increased risk of developing cancer themselves.
Inherited colorectal cancer syndromes: Genetic syndromes present in some families, such as, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC), can increase the risk of colon cancer.
Racial/Ethnic background: African Americans have a higher incidence of colorectal cancer as compared to other groups in the United States.
Lifestyle factors: A diet high in fat and low in fiber as well as obesity can increase the risk for colorectal cancer.
Colorectal screening saves lives
Since the early 1980s, the mortality from colorectal cancer has decreased steadily in the United States. In large part, these declines can be attributed to increased awareness and more pervasive screening. However, recent data show that one in three adults between the ages of 50 and 75 are not up to date on recommended screening for colorectal cancer.
Common screening tests for individuals of average risk include: Fecal occult blood test - recommended annually Flexible sigmoidoscopy OR double contrast barium enema - recommended every five years OR Colonoscopy - recommended every 10 years
Screening should begin at age 50 for the average person.
Other modalities such as CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) and stool DNA testing are also being used but have not been widely adopted.
Individuals at increased risk (see risk factors outlined above) should be screened more frequently with colonoscopy.
While colon cancer is often combined with rectal cancer and referred to as “colorectal cancer,” it is important to know about the two different types, their location and their symptoms
About Colon Cancer
Colon cancer is the third most common type of cancer in both men and women, and is the second leading cause of death from cancer in the United States. Colon cancer is cancer that forms in the lining tissues of the colon. Most colon tumors begin when normal tissue forms a polyp, or pre-cancerous growth projecting from the wall of the colon. As the polyp grows, a tumor forms. Because the tumor grows slowly, early detection is possible through screening and tests.
The colon is the largest part of the large intestine, also known as the large bowel. After food is chewed and swallowed, it travels through the stomach and small intestine where it is broken down and most of the nutrients absorbed. The colon's function is to change liquid waste into solid waste and prepare it to be expelled from the body.
Symptoms of colon cancer include:
Bleeding from the rectum
Blood (bright red or very dark) in the stool or toilet after a bowel movement
A change, or narrowing of the stool
Cramping or pain in the abdomen
Feeling the need to have a bowel movement, but not having one
Excessive fatigue
Frequent gas, bloating or feeling of fullness
Weight loss for no known reason
Nausea and vomiting
About Rectal Cancer
Rectal cancer is cancerous tissue that grows along and invades the wall of the rectum. Rectal cancer and colon cancer are very similar and share many common features. The difference in location creates important differences in how each is treated. Rectal cancer, like colon cancer, may start as a polyp that becomes cancerous.
Symptoms of rectal cancer include:
Change in bowel habits including: diarrhea, constipation, feeling that the bowel has not completely emptied, stools that are narrow in shape
Bright red or dark blood in the stool
Abdominal discomfort
Change in appetite
Losing weight without dieting
Fatigue
It’s important to know that symptoms of colorectal cancer can look like symptoms of other conditions. Patients who experience any of these symptoms should contact their healthcare provider.
Schedule A Colonoscopy
Most colorectal cancer is found through a colonoscopy. In fact, a recent study from Memorial Sloan-Kettering stated that colonoscopies cut colon cancer death risk.
During a colonoscopy, while the patient is under sedation the physician places a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing inside the rectum and colon. The scope also has a tool to remove polyps or tissue samples, which are checked for cancer in a lab.
Colonoscopies are recommended for men and women over the age of 50 as a standard preventive test. People at high risk for colon and rectal cancer or those with a family history of cancer should talk with their physicians about recommendations for screening.
View CANPrevent Colon Cancer – What You Need to Know to learn more about your risk for colon cancer.
Screening tests for colorectal cancer can detect cancer at an earlier, more treatable stage. Here, Greg Ginsberg, MD, director of endoscopic services at Penn Medicine, and physician at the Abramson Cancer Center, talks about screening for colorectal cancer.
A cancer screening is a test that can detect cancer in its early stages or abnormalities that may lead to cancer before symptoms are present. When cancer is detected early, it may be easier to treat and its treatment may have better outcomes. If you have a genetic predisposition to certain types of cancer, you may need to be screened more often or at an earlier age than the general population.
Some examples of screening recommendations are:
Yearly mammograms for women beginning at age 40 and continuing or as long as a woman is in good health.
Clinical breast exam every three years for women in their 20s and 30s and every year for women 40 and over.
Beginning at age 50, both men and women should follow one of these testing schedules:
Tests that find polyps and cancer
Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years*, or
Colonoscopy every 10 years, or
Double-contrast barium enema every 5 years*, or
CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years*
Tests that primarily find cancer
Yearly fecal occult blood test (gFOBT)**, or
Yearly fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every year**, or
Stool DNA test (sDNA), interval uncertain*
All women should begin cervical cancer screening about three years after they begin having vaginal intercourse, but no later than 21 years old. Screening should be done every year with the regular Pap test or every two years using the newer liquid-based Pap test.
Beginning at age 30, women who have had three normal Pap test results in a row may get screened every two to three years. Women older than 30 may also get screened every three years with either the conventional or liquid-based Pap test, plus the human papilloma virus (HPV) test.
Women 70 years of age or older who have had three or more normal Pap tests in a row and no abnormal Pap test results in the last 10 years may choose to stop having Pap tests.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported that many Americans are not getting their recommended cancer screening tests. In fact, a recent report showed that screening rates were significantly lowers for certain ethnic groups, such as Asian and Hispanic. The report also found that screening tests for cervical cancer dipped nearly 3 percent since 2000.
The cancer specialists at Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center remind everyone to get their recommended cancer screening tests. National Cancer Prevention Month serves as a reminder to you’re your screening appointments and follow this blog for cancer prevention tips, recommendations and articles.
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and it is the perfect time to schedule a screening for colorectal cancer.
Screening tests for colorectal cancer can detect cancer at an earlier, more treatable stage. Here, Greg Ginsberg, MD, director of endoscopic services at Penn Medicine, and physician at the Abramson Cancer Center, talks about screening for colorectal cancer.
When it comes to lung cancer, the numbers are not good. More people in the U.S. die from lung cancer than any other type of cancer.
Consider these facts:
In 2011, more than 220,000 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer and more than 156,000 people will die of lung or bronchus cancer.
Smokers are 10 to 20 times more likely to get lung cancer. About 90 percent of lung cancer deaths in men and almost 80 percent of lung cancer deaths in women are due to smoking.
There are more than 94 million current or former smokers in the U.S.
Among both men and women in the United States, lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer, accounting for more deaths than breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer combined.
Screening uses tests or exams to find a disease like cancer in people who don't have any symptoms. Because lung cancer often spreads beyond the lungs before it causes symptoms, a screening test that finds lung cancer early could save many lives.
In the past, no lung cancer screening test had been shown to lower the risk of dying from this disease. Studies involving spiral CT (or helical CT) have shown some promise in finding early lung cancers in heavy smokers and former smokers. So far, major medical groups have not recommended routine screening tests for all people or even for people at increased risk, such as smokers.
People who smoke, who smoked in the past, or who have been exposed to other people's smoke, as well as those who have worked around materials that increase the risk for lung cancer need to be aware of their lung cancer risk. They should talk to their doctors about their chances of getting lung cancer and the pros and cons of lung cancer screening.
For those who decide in favor of testing, the physicians in Penn Medicine’s Lung Cancer Program are experienced in lung scanning and the latest screening techniques for people at high risk.
For information about smoking cessation programs at Penn Medicine, visit PennMedicine.org/smoking or call 800-789-PENN (7366).
Join Our Lung Cancer Webchat Live from the Focus On Lung Cancer Conference Lung cancer experts will answer questions about risk, diagnosis and treatment. Submit questions in advance, view and participate in the live webchat and read transcripts after the webchat. Time: 12:15 PM, EST Website:OncoLink.org/Webchat
When it comes to lung cancer, the numbers are not good. More people in the U.S. die from lung cancer than any other type of cancer.
Consider these facts:
In 2011, more than 220,000 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer and more than 156,000 people will die of lung or bronchus cancer.
Smokers are 10 to 20 times more likely to get lung cancer. About 90 percent of lung cancer deaths in men and almost 80 percent of lung cancer deaths in women are due to smoking.
There are more than 94 million current or former smokers in the U.S.
Among both men and women in the United States, lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer, accounting for more deaths than breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer combined.
Screening uses tests or exams to find a disease like cancer in people who don't have any symptoms. Because lung cancer often spreads beyond the lungs before it causes symptoms, a screening test that finds lung cancer early could save many lives.
In the past, no lung cancer screening test had been shown to lower the risk of dying from this disease. Studies involving spiral CT (or helical CT) have shown some promise in finding early lung cancers in heavy smokers and former smokers. So far, major medical groups have not recommended routine screening tests for all people or even for people at increased risk, such as smokers.
People who smoke, who smoked in the past, or who have been exposed to other people's smoke, as well as those who have worked around materials that increase the risk for lung cancer need to be aware of their lung cancer risk. They should talk to their doctors about their chances of getting lung cancer and the pros and cons of lung cancer screening.
For those who decide in favor of testing, the physicians in Penn Medicine’s Lung Cancer Program are experienced in lung scanning and the latest screening techniques for people at high risk.
For information about smoking cessation programs at Penn Medicine, visit PennMedicine.org/smoking or call 800-789-PENN (7366).
