The older we get, the more concerned we become with our health. Currently, screening guidelines for cancer or heart disease are generally based upon your age, your family and your medical history. At present there is no single test that can tell you for sure that you don’t have any cancer cells in your body or that you have no chance of developing heart disease. However, as technology and testing progress, medicine is getting better at answering these questions.

Bodhi offers comprehensive cancer screening and risk assessment based on the latest technology. We also offer a health assessment program and a comprehensive prevention program to help you live your healthiest life. We will discuss with you the available guidelines for each of these tests and the risks and benefits of proceeding with them for people who fall outside those guidelines.

Our team—composed of experienced primary care physicians, a cardiologist, a gastroenterologist, women’s health providers, an endocrinologist, a nutritional consultant, and behavioral therapists, in collaboration with imaging centers—will provide you with detailed understanding of your body’s current state and help you adjust your lifestyle to increase your chances of living cancer- or heart disease-free for as long as possible. We focus on teaching good mental and physical health habits and practicing them daily.

Some tests such as breast cancer screening (mammogram), cervical cancer screening ( pap-smear), prostate cancer screening, colon cancer screening ( colonscopy) or lung cancer screening ( CT chest) are from certain age and/or for individuals at higher risk covered by insurances. However, additional testing for less common cancers or screening for lower risk individuals are not commonly approved by insurances due to high costs and lower yield on population based level. Nonetheless every individual has risk of developing cancer at any age and these supplemental screenings can sometimes help to uncover findings not performed during routine primary care. You may have heard on the news of celebrities who had cancers discovered at unexpected places or earlier age. No human is exempt from this risk no matter how rich or poor. The risks increases in age and we offer for those interested additional testing to improve the knowledge of their body at present time.

Cancer screening program:
Comprehensive evaluation of the level of your risk of developing cancer, and recommendations on how to reduce the risk or strategies on screening. This includes consultations with a primary care physician and as needed with other specialists including women’s health nurse practitioner, gastroenterologist, breast specialist or oncologist as needed. Our comprehensive program includes specialized blood tests and imaging studies, including brain MRI, chest CT, thyroid ultrasound, and abdominal MRI. The blood tests will be performed at our office and the imaging studies are available at many locations of Lenox Hill Radiology in New York City.

Comprehensive Cancer screening program starts at $3749.

The cost can be applied to your Health savings program. You can ask your HR department for any additional benefits your company can provide.

CANCER SCREENING PROGRAM INCLUDES:

1. Initial cancer risk assessment by primary care physician + Galleri cancer screening blood test ( blood test for markers to 50+ most common cancers)

2. MRI of the brain without contrast ( screening for brain abnormalities including tumors)

3. Thyroid Ultrasound ( screening for occult thyroid nodules cancers) – performed by a thyroid specialist

4. CT scan chest – low dose – lung cancer screening ( screening evaluation for lung nodules and cancers)

5. MRI abdomen without contrast ( screening evaluation for liver, gallbladder, pancreas & kidney lesions)

6. MRI pelvis without contrast ( screening evaluation for nodules /tumors – women: ovaries, uterus :: men: prostate

7. Galleri – cancer screening blood test ( ( blood test for markers to 50+ most common cancers)

8. Comprehensive skin cancer evaluation by dermatology specialist

9. Evaluation of the results by primary care provider via telemedicine

additional optional services: additional specialized tests based on the needs: example: Gastrointestinal (esophagus, stomach and colon cancer screening): cost determined with specialist

Few important facts: The screening provides you an evaluation at one point in time. It is not a guarantee of full reassurance that you dont have any cancer cells. Your body contains several trillion cells which replicate at various speeds. While the current technology can detect nodules or lesions at around 5 millimeters or more, there is no technology which can detect a single cancer cell inside of your body. With our comprehensive screening if no suspicious lesions are detected, while it may be reassuring, you still have a smaller probability of cancers cells existing in your body. This screening focuses on detecting lesions which are visible to current technology and/or produce abnormal markers which are detectable at sufficient levels in blood.

IF any lesion or abnormal markers is detected additional testing, time and procedures may be needed to further identify the abnormal findings. This can be anxiety provoking and can take extra time. Sometimes weeks and months. You may need also a long term follow up including annual screenings.

False positive results can occur – lesions seen or abnormal markers detected may indicate presence of cancer -but on additional testing this suspicion may prove to be incorrect. You may have to undergo additional testing and procedures with negative or inconclusive results. This is a risk with any screening.

False negative results can occur as well. No lesions or abnormal markers may be detected to indicate presence of cancer, but cancer cells or cancer lesions can be present in your body at the time of the testing or develop later. Unfortunately, there are limitations to the technology and any screenings. The false positive and false negative probabilities vary depending on your age, history, location and type of cancer being screening.

More information will be provided to you once you enroll into the program.

Nonetheless, if you compare the costs of this screening including its limitations with possible costs of treatment of cancer detected at later stages , the differences can be significant.

Estimated costs of treatments for heart attack or cancer or hip replacement
overall costs	Initial costs	10 year costs	US costs annually
cancer	$150,000	$230,000	$220 billion

As we know that these illnesses are more and more attributed not only to the genetics, but also to our lifestyle and how we approach each and every day, we know that preventing heart disease or cancer can help you live longer and hopefully happier. As a primary care physicians, we seen in daily practice people in their 70’s and 80’s who take no medications, have no high blood pressure, their hearts and minds as well as other organs continue to work well. Moreover, many also managed to live cancer free to older age. They are not an anomaly. When scientists study the long living subjects, they frequently learn that they keep being physically very active, life healthy and have humble yet good approach to life.

For those interested to improve their lifestyle, reduce their weight and reduce some of the modifiable cancer risk factor we offer a comprehensive risk reduction program.

At this time we generally do not accept people under age 40. This may change as our program evolves.

We do accept people with chronic conditions or history of cancer who want to live better and improve their life.

Cost: $5000  for 6 months program.

$1000 is refundable at the end of the program if you achieve certain goals such as normal weight and reduce at least 1 of your risk factors.

If you have any questions please email us at yourdoctor@mybodhi.com.

Thank you.

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