Cancer Screenings

Cancer screenings are one of the most effective tools medical providers have in the fight against this terrible disease.

Patients who understand their risk of certain types of cancer and the importance of screenings are able to make the most informed choices about their health and well-being.

LCH offers many tools for cancer prevention, screening, and early detection. Whether you are visiting us for a regular check-up or an illness, we will give you information about cancer screenings that we recommend. 

Cancer screening tests are the first step in early detection, and we use a few different tools based on your risks. We always start by getting as much information about your health history as we can. Family history of cancer, previous cancer diagnosis, cancer genes, being overweight, smoking, and being over a certain age are all possible reasons to recommend a cancer screening.

Key Screenings for Cancer Detection at LCH

LCH screens for several common types of cancer that have standard tests. We screen for many cancers in our health center locations in West Grove, Oxford, and Kennett Square. If our medical team thinks that you need further testing, they will help you take the next steps.

Common cancer screening tools include:

• Breast exam – doctors will feel the breast tissue during an exam in our West Grove Women’s Health Center to check for lumps.
• Mammogram – this breast cancer screening machine takes an image of the inside of the breast to find cancer at its earliest point.
• Pap Smear – this cervical cancer screening test is done during an exam in our West Grove Women’s Health Center. The doctor will take a swab of the cervix to test for cancerous cells.
• Colonoscopy – this colon cancer screening test uses a camera to explore the colon to check for polyps, which might be cancerous.
• FIT test- The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) uses antibodies to detect blood in the stool.
• PSA Test – this prostate cancer screening test checks a blood sample for an abnormal amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA).
• Rectal Exam- can feel for changes in the prostate or colon cancers in the rectum.
• Low-Dose CT Scan – this lung cancer screening test uses a machine to examine the lungs for nodules (bumps that don’t belong), which could be cancerous.

Depending on your results, age, and risks for cancer, your doctor will recommend follow up screenings or further testing. Some cancer screenings should be done every year, while others can be done every 3, 5, or 10 years.

Preparing for Cancer Screenings

Every cancer screening is a different kind of test, but there are a few basics to be well prepared:

• Make a list of all of your medications, vitamins, and supplements.
• Find out if your siblings, parents, or grandparents ever had cancer, what kind, and at about what age.
• Keep in mind your own health history, including your surgeries, serious illnesses, previous cancer diagnoses, or sexually transmitted infections (STI).
• Be honest about smoking habits, drug use, and sexual activity so that we can assess specific risk factors. Remember, this is about your health and our medical staff will always keep your information private.
• Write down a list of your own questions so that we can answer everything before you start any testing. We want to make sure you are comfortable to make an informed decision about your health.

Additional screening preparation depends on the test. Always follow the exact instructions to make sure we get the most correct results. Some screenings are given in our health centers, but some, like mammograms and CT scans, are done at outpatient labs. Rest assured that the clinicians in those offices keep us up to date on your results, and we’ll reach out to discuss your results. 

Cancer prevention and early detection are priorities for LCH Health and Community Services.

Cancer affects people of all ages, races, ethnicities, and economic backgrounds. Some people have a higher risk of cancer because of family history or environmental causes. But most people who will face a cancer diagnosis don’t have any obvious risks at all.

There are many different types of cancer, but what they all have in common is that abnormal cells grow and spread, damaging the body and killing healthy cells. The more cancer spreads throughout the body, the harder it is to treat, and the lower the survival rate. We can expect about 2 million new cases of cancer to be diagnosed in the next year. When caught early, especially before it has had time to spread, successful treatment or cure is more likely.

Some of the more common types of cancer include:

• Colon cancer
• Breast cancer
•  Cervical cancer
• Lung cancer
• Prostate cancer

Cancer screenings for these most common types make a huge difference in early detection, treatment, and survival rates.