Survivorship Program

Survivorship focuses on the health and well-being of a person with cancer during and after treatment, from the time of diagnosis. Supporting mental, physical, social and emotional health is an integral part in overall wellness.

For this reason, we established the Survivorship Program, designed to help patients during and after treatment. Main Line Health Cancer Care partners with patients and caregivers to provide comprehensive survivorship services offering education, support and connections.

Patients who receive survivorship care gain a better understanding of how to monitor for signs of recurrence, identify signs of late treatment effects, and collaborate with their health care providers to prevent disease. They also report less stress and an overall improvement in their quality of life with education around cancer screening recommendations and connection to community resources.

Our Survivorship Program offers educational seminars to assist patients with support for mental, physical, social and emotional health throughout cancer care and beyond. We offer support groups for patients and caregivers, nutrition seminars and a lecture series called Thriving During and After Cancer Treatment.

Our ongoing schedule of programs is available on our Events & Classes calendar.

To schedule an appointment with a breast cancer specialist at Main Line Health, call 1.866.CALL.MLH (225.5654) or use our secure online appointment request form.

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Cardio-Oncology Program

Advances in cancer treatment are allowing more people to live with cancer. Unfortunately, cancer treatment can sometimes worsen an existing heart problem or create a new one. This happens when a cancer drug or radiation therapy causes unintended harm to the heart or blood vessels.

Side effects from cancer treatment can lead to heart failure, valve disease, heart attack, dangerously unsafe blood pressure levels or other problems. These problems may develop during, soon after or years following cancer treatment.

To address these concerns, Lankenau Heart Institute cardiologists with expertise in cancer-related heart problems are working with oncology colleagues across Main Line Health to coordinate cancer treatment with heart care. What's important to know is that many of the adverse effects of cancer treatment on the heart, although unintended, can be anticipated and therefore monitored, managed or avoided altogether.

The Main Line Health Cardio-Oncology Program is devoted to protecting heart health after a cancer diagnosis. The cardio-oncology team keeps pace with advances in the field, integrating the latest techniques and strategies for identifying, preventing and managing heart complications in patients undergoing cancer treatment or being followed in cancer surveillance programs.

Lymphedema Management Program

Your lymphatic system is made up of your lymph nodes and vessels that carry lymph fluid throughout your body. This fluid helps remove waste and toxins, and helps you fight infection. Lymphedema occurs when your lymphatic system is unable to drain the fluid the way it should, which can lead to swelling and discomfort.

Our lymphedema therapists are able to help you achieve best results early and with continued treatment. Even in cases of chronic lymphedema, an active management program can reduce swelling and improve symptoms. Our creative therapies include:

  • Manual lymphatic drainage or massage
  • Multilayer compression bandaging
  • Compression garments
  • Exercise
  • Skin care

Integrative Services

It's natural for people with cancer to experience psychological and emotional as well as physical effects of treatment. Some patients may feel stress related to pain and recovery while others may have feelings of anxiety or depression. We address all of these aspects of the patient experience, offering integrative services for patients in the hospital as well as for patients receiving outpatient care. We are pleased to be able to offer these services at no additional cost to our patients.

Integrative services available at Main Linea Health include art and music therapy, nutrition consultation, therapeutic massage, acupuncture, reiki, aromatherapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction.

Hair Loss Support

We know that the prospect of losing your hair can be one of the scariest parts of facing chemotherapy. Not all cancer treatments will cause hair loss. For those that do, we have several programs available to you.

Paxman Scalp Cooling System

The Paxman scalp cooling system available at Lankenau Medical Center can help to retain your hair. Paxman has been pioneering scalp cooling technology for over a quarter of a century. This clinically proven cold cap system has helped over 100,000 cancer patients in more than 25 countries worldwide to retain their hair during chemotherapy.

Free Wig Program

Our wig program is available for patients anticipating or experiencing hair loss as a result of radiation or chemotherapy treatments. We will teach you about selecting, styling and caring for a wig and your scalp. We also provide connections to local salons and resources to support your goals during and after cancer treatment. 

HomeCare & Hospice

Main Line Health HomeCare & Hospice is one of the most highly regarded providers of home health and hospice services in southeastern Pennsylvania. Our team is dedicated to the fundamental principles of caring and responsiveness while providing the full spectrum of home health, hospice and private duty services.

HomeCare

Home health care services can help you recover after surgery, illness or injury in the comfort of your own home. It can also be a big help for those with a chronic disease or disability to regain your independence. Home health is one of the most personal kinds of care because it happens in your home.

Our health care professionals play an important role in listening to your concerns and understanding your medical needs. Together with your doctor, we create a personal care plan for you. We keep your doctor up to date on your condition, which results in better outcomes and more support for you and your family.

Our home health care services include chronic illness management, telehealth monitoring, palliative care and private duty services.

Hospice care

Main Line Health hospice services are provided to adults with serious, progressive or life-limiting illness. In most cases, care is provided in the home. Hospice care can also be provided in a nursing home, assisted living facility or in the hospital setting.

We embrace a holistic approach to care that includes the physical, emotional and spiritual concerns people may experience with advanced illness. Support is provided by an interdisciplinary team of hospice caregivers that provides the most advanced therapies, medications, emotional and spiritual support, personal care and companionship services, and palliative care for pain control and management of other symptoms.

Palliative Care

Palliative care at Main Line Health is available to seriously ill patients to help with pain and symptom management, complex decision-making, physical and emotional support, communication with the health care team, community resources and quality of life. It is not necessary to have a terminal diagnosis to benefit from palliative care.

Advance Care Planning

Advance care planning is a process that helps define your goals and wishes as they relate to health care. It is sometimes called an advance directive, living will, personal directive, medical directive or advance decision. This important process can provide vital information to physicians, caregivers and loved ones if you are unable to communicate on your own behalf.