Wellness Screenings

Cancer Risk Assessment

A staff member will ask you various questions about your personal and family medical history to determine your risk of developing various cancers. Your Executive Health physician can then use this information to make specific recommendations for cancer prevention.

Breast Cancer: Mammograms

These X-rays allow us to look for breast cancers that are too small to detect during a physician exam. This exam is recommended for women age 40 or older.

Lung Cancer: Computed Tomography (CT) Scan

Early studies suggest that computed tomography (CT or CAT) scans can detect small lung cancers and other abnormalities--signs that tend to be missed by traditional X-ray pictures of a person's chest. One study found that CT scans detected 27 lung cancers, but chest X-rays only detected seven lung cancers in this same group.

Your smoking history and age will determine whether you are eligible to participate in lung cancer screening with low-dose CT. Should a suspicious region be observed on your CT scan, you will be referred for follow-up with high-resolution CT scans to more accurately assess the abnormality. The potential benefits of early lung cancer detection are currently the topic of intense international research. However, the earlier lung cancer is detected, the sooner appropriate treatment can begin.

This advanced test only takes about 15 seconds. You lie on a table and hold your breath as the CT machine moves around you, creating detailed images of your lungs.

Osteoporosis: Bone Density Test

This quick, painless test allows us to detect thinning bones in time to prevent fractures and other complications of osteoporosis. You simply lie down with your clothes on. Then, a scanner--or densitometer--measures the density of the bones in your spine and hips. The amount of radiation used is minimal--less than that used for a chest X-ray or mammogram.

Osteoporosis can strike anyone. It is particularly common in certain groups, including the following:

• Women after menopause
• People who have taken steroid medications for asthma, Crohn's disease, and other conditions
• People with thyroid problems, lupus, or an eating disorder

At the University of Chicago Medical Center, members of our world-renowned team of endocrinologists specialize in osteoporosis and bone disease. They provide individualized treatment plans to suit the specific needs of each patient. Because these University of Chicago physicians have been actively involved in the research leading to the development of many new drugs, they are particularly well qualified to help each patient choose the best medication and to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment.

Other Appropriate Tests

We also offer other tests that may be appropriate. If you are unsure whether you should have a certain test done, consult with your Executive Health physician.

• Chest, bone, and other X-rays
• MRI
• Ultrasound
• Vascular studies

More Information

• Wellness Screenings
• Consults with Specialists