Santa Monica Bay Physicians
CANCER SCREENING
Some cancers can be prevented but most of the time physicians rely on early diagnosis to improve cancer survival. SMBP physicians use a number of techniques to detect cancer at early and treatable stages. These include Pap smears, mammograms, careful skin inspection for melanoma, rectal exam and PSA testing for prostate cancer, fecal occult blood testing, colonoscopy and virtual CT colonography, and genetic testing under special circumstances. There is a large trial underway to help answer the question whether lung CT scans can improve survival for smokers at risk for lung cancer, which we're watching very closely. Our imaging center offers lung CT scans individually and as part of our Total Body Scan package. In addition to a coronary artery calcium (heart health) scan and lung scan performed on the GE Lightspeed CT scanner we combine those tests with an MRI scan of the abdomen and pelvis that can detect abdominal aortic aneurysms as well as cancer of the internal organs, without the radiation exposure of a CT scan. We offer screening for the inherited forms of breast and ovarian cancer. This is called BRCA Genetic Screening.
Contact Lawrence Dardick,MD. |
