Cancer Awareness Month for October: Breast Cancer, Liver Cancer

October is breast cancer and liver cancer awareness month. Be sure to subscribe to the Focus On Cancer blog and like the Abramson Cancer Center Facebook page for more information on breast and liver cancer throughout the entire month.

Learn more about cancer treatments at the Abramson Cancer Center.

Schedule an appointment with a
Penn primary care physician today.

Screening for Testicular and Prostate Cancer

Did you know that testicular cancer and prostate cancer are not only the most common types of cancer in men, but are highly curable when found and treated early? Luckily, both of these cancer types can often be detected early in their development through simple tests, allowing doctors to begin treatment quickly.

Screening for Testicular Cancer
Most women know how to perform a monthly breast self-exam to detect a cancerous lump. But did you know men can perform a testicular self-exam using a simple, three step exam performed at home?

Get more information and tips on how to perform a self-exam.
 
Should you be Screened for Prostate Cancer?
All men aged 50 or older are encouraged to get a screening for prostate cancer, but men at risk are especially encouraged. High risk includes:

• Men aged 45 who are African American
• Men with a father or brother who had prostate cancer before the age of 65

Screenings consist of a physical exam and a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test - a simple blood test that your doctor can perform to determine your PSA levels. A high PSA level can indicate a problem with your prostate, which may or not be prostate cancer.

Diagnosed with Cancer?
If either of these tests lead to a cancer diagnosis, understanding your options is critical. The Abramson Cancer Center offers patients a wide array of the most advanced options available, including minimally invasive and robotic surgical options, and proton therapy, the most advanced form of radiation therapy available.

Learn more about the Penn Urology team
or schedule an appointment by calling 800-789-PENN.

Free Skin Cancer Prevention and Melanoma Conferences

CANPrevent Skin Cancer

Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center invites you and your loved ones to attend CANPrevent Skin Cancer, a free educational conference for anyone interested in learning about preventing skin cancer.
CANPrevent Skin Cancer is designed to address the personal and medical issues facing those at risk for skin cancer. The conference provides patient-focused information about the latest advances in skin cancer risk, screening and prevention.

Who Should Attend
Anyone interested in learning about skin cancer and its prevention - especially those with:

• Natural blond or red hair color
• Presence of atypical or numerous moles
• Sun sensitivity (easily burns, difficulty tanning)
• History of excessive sun exposure, including sunburns
• History of using tanning booths
• History of diseases that suppress the immune system
• Personal or family history of melanoma, basal cell or squamous cell skin cancers

Join Us
Time: 8 to 11:30 am
Date: Friday, May 17, 2013
Location: Hilton Hotel located at 4200 City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Registration: Register here call 800-789-PENN (7366)
Cost: FREE

Get the facts on skin cancer and melanoma risk, prevention and screening – they could save your life or the life of someone you know.

Focus On Melanoma

Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center invites patients, family members and anyone interested in learning about melanoma risk, prevention, diagnosis and treatment to attend Focus On Melanoma.

Focus On Melanoma is a free educational conference featuring a keynote address by Paul B. Chapman, MD, and Marisa Weiss, MD.

Penn’s Focus On Melanoma Conference addresses the personal and medical issues facing people with melanoma including those in treatment, survivors, their loved ones, relatives and caregivers.

The conference provides patient-focused information on the latest advances in melanoma risk, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, symptom management and psychosocial issues. It is also an opportunity to network and gain support from other melanoma patients and survivors.

Who Should Attend

• People newly diagnosed with melanoma
• Those at risk for melanoma
• Melanoma survivors
• Family members, caregivers or healthcare providers of melanoma patients/survivors
• Those diagnosed with a pigmented lesion and their family members/caregivers

Join Us
Time: 7:30 am to 3 pm
Date: Friday May 18, 2012
Location: Hilton Hotel located at 4200 City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Registration: Register here or call 800-789-PENN (7366)
Cost: FREE

Unable to Attend These Events?

Follow Penn Medicine on Twitter for event information before the conference date, and live tweeting throughout the conference with the hashtag #SkinCancerACC and #MelanomaACC.
Please “re-tweet” and share Penn Medicine's messages about skin cancer prevention and awareness with your followers.

Patient Story: Proton Therapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Proton Therapy Helped Me Share Moments with My Grandchildren
Kathy Brandt was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer in 2011 at her local hospital. After much research, and a recommendation from her brother-in-law, who is a physician, Kathy chose Penn Medicine for her lung cancer treatment, which included proton therapy. Today, Kathy is cancer free. 

You hear the word “cancer” and it's truly terrifying.

It was basically just a checkup with my pulmonologist because I have emphysema. He sent me for a chest X-ray and that is when they found the tumor in my lung. It was a terrifying time and thankfully I had strong family surrounding me - strong family helping me make decisions about what kind of treatment I should have. After that initial diagnosis, when you feel like you have been hit with a ton of bricks, then the decision needs to be made where you are going to seek treatment. My brother-in-law, who is a physician, along with my pulmonologist suggested I go to Penn Medicine for treatment.

Penn Medicine was a wonderful choice for us. They used a team approach.  I saw an oncologist, I saw a surgeon, and the radiologist is all located at Penn Medicine.  It was very comforting to know that all these people are just working to take care of you and to make you better.

I was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer at the end of June.  My surgery was the beginning of August and chemo started in September. It was finished in November.  I started proton therapy in December, which lasted for 4 weeks.

Deciding to Have Proton Therapy at Penn
I decided to go with the proton radiation because of the cancer’s proximity to my heart and spine. I chose proton therapy because I knew it would be more precise and would have less side effects and that was very important to me.

The Proton Therapy Experience
Every day for 5 weeks, I would leave work, come home, and my husband would take me to Penn for proton therapy. After the treatment, we’d go home and I’d spend time with my grandchildren and their parents, who were living with us at the time. My granddaughter was about 3 months old at the time. And I would take her, feed her, and just spend time with the people that meant the most to me.

I really felt wonderful. I continued to work the whole time I had proton therapy – I never missed a day of work, actually. I was a bit more tired than usual, but that was really the only side effect I felt.

When I completed proton therapy, I rang the bell.  Everybody in the waiting room clapped, and we went home and I think I had a very big glass of wine after treatment was finished.

After Proton Therapy
Today, I don’t sweat the small stuff.

I would tell anyone to feel very comfortable going to Penn Medicine, and I would tell anyone to also feel very comfortable in choosing proton therapy simply because of the fewer side effects and its extreme precision.  I would recommend Penn Medicine wholeheartedly.  I cannot say enough good things about my experience.

Learn More About Proton Therapy at Penn Medicine
Proton therapy is a non-invasive, incredibly precise cancer treatment that uses a beam of protons moving at very high speeds to destroy the DNA of cancer cells killing them and preventing them from multiplying.

Unlike conventional radiation that can affect surrounding healthy tissue as it enters the body and targets the tumor, proton therapy’s precise, high dose of radiation is extremely targeted. This targeted precision causes less damage to healthy, surrounding tissue.

Watch the full video of Kathy's experience.

Learn more about proton therapy, or schedule a consultation with a radiation oncologist at Penn Medicine. 

Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine Valley Forge is Now Open

Expert Cancer Care is Now Just Around the Corner 

When faced with a cancer diagnosis, patients and their families deserve the best. As world-renowned experts in cancer care, Penn physicians offer the most advanced treatment options, groundbreaking research and the compassionate care patients and families need before, during and after a cancer diagnosis.

Penn Medicine is pleased to offer residents of the Valley Forge community that same level of care closer to home at the new Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine Valley Forge.

Designed to offer patients the best experience possible, this brand new two-floor and 18-exam room facility features a broad range of cancer services including:

• Office consultations
• Second opinions
• Chemotherapy treatments in a newly designed infusion suite
• Radiation therapy
• Laboratory services
• Access to the latest clinical trials, research, and cutting edge treatments like proton therapy — the most advanced and precise form of radiation therapy in the world
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Learn more about the new Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine

November is National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

Did you know that pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States?

This year alone, approximately 44,000 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer  The multidisciplinary team at Penn 's Abramson Cancer Center is nationally recognized for its specialized techniques and advanced treatment options in treating pancreatic cancer.

In January 2013, The Abramson Cancer Center is opening a new location at Penn Medicine Valley Forge.  Penn's Abramson Cancer Center is home to the region's top cancer experts, the most advanced treatment options, groundbreaking research and the compassionate care that patients and families need before, during and after a cancer diagnosis. The new location in Valley Forge brings that same level of care closer to home for people living in the western suburbs.

Learn more at PennMedicine.org/Abramson

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

According to BreastCancer.org, approximately one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

October is breast cancer awareness month and a great time to support breast cancer research as well as breast cancer survivors. Penn Medicine is home to two award-winning breast centers: the Rena Rowan Breast Center at Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center and the Integrated Breast Center at Pennsylvania Hospital, part of the Joan Karnell Cancer Center. Both centers are accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers.

October is also a great time to schedule your yearly mammogram. Penn Medicine is proud to be one of the region’s only medical centers offering digital breast tomosynthesis at the Ruth and Raymond Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine.

At risk for breast cancer? Find out at the Mariann and Robert MacDonald Women's Cancer Risk Evaluation Center.

• 10 Facts for Breast Cancer Awareness
• Diagnosed with BRCA 1 or 2? Learn more about the Basser Research Center.

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Fortunately, there is a vast array of treatments available for those who develop prostate cancer.

Penn's Abramson Cancer Center has access to every treatment option for prostate cancer. When a patient comes to the Abramson Cancer Center, the individual prostate cancer is assessed by a multidisciplinary team of physicians specializing in urology, radiation oncology and medical oncology. Abramson Cancer Center experts come together to ensure that patients receive the treatment that is best suited for their individual case. Treatment options include but are not limited to:

• Active surveillance (sometimes called “watchful waiting”) 
• Radiation therapy, including proton therapy at the Roberts Proton Therapy Center 
• Radical prostatectomy, including robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery 
• Cryosurgery 

Through research, Penn's Abramson Cancer Center collaborates with Penn Radiation Oncology and Penn Urology to advance treatments for prostate cancer and find ways to combat the disease.

Learn more about prostate cancer care at Penn's Abramson Cancer Center at PennMedicine.org/prostatecancer 

Find out about proton therapy - the world's most advanced radiation treatment

Proton Therapy for Prostate Cancer: A Patient’s Story

When Frank McKee was diagnosed with prostate cancer, he wanted to find the best treatment to fight the disease. After extensively researching treatment options, he finally chose proton therapy, the world’s most advanced form of radiation therapy.

“I wanted to treat the cancer and I wanted to be done with it in a way that had a minimum amount of side effects and affected my life the least,” McKee said. 

Proton therapy offers a variety of benefits to patients with prostate cancer. These include:

• Reduced radiation to normal, healthy tissues
• Decreased chance of side effects, complications and toxicity
• Maximum radiation dose administered directly to the tumor
• Fewer daily treatments, as deemed appropriate 
• Ability to re-treat tumors

“My life has been very, very full in the last year and a half since I finished treatment,” said McKee. “There are times I totally forget I had prostate cancer. And that’s a good thing.”

• Register online for a one-on-one phone consultation 
• Treated with Proton Therapy? Sign up for the Proton Patient Alumni Group 
• Learn more about prostate cancer care at Penn's Abramson Cancer Center

Penn’s Basser Research Center: Only Center in the World Dedicated to BRCA Research

The Basser Research Center at Penn Medicine was created with the assistance of a $25 million transformational gift from Penn alumni, Mindy and Jon Gray. As part of Penn's Abramson Cancer Center, the center is the first of its kind in the world dedicated to researching BRCA. BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are gene mutations associated with an increased risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.

The center focuses on every stage of the diagnosis including:

• Communication
• Outreach and risk assessment
• Prevention
• Early detection
• Treatment
• Survivorship

Led by Executive Director Susan M. Domchek, MD, the center supports research with a focus on interdisciplinary work and seeks to accelerate the pace of translational research. Starting with a team of eight revolutionary researchers and physicians, the Basser Research Center is dedicated to better understanding the development of cancer, creating less invasive interventions for prevention and treatment and ultimately, saving lives. 

• Learn more about the Basser Research Center
• Read coverage on the Basser Research Center in the New York Times
• What is BRCA? Watch a video from Dr. Domchek