Early Cancer Detection: Screenings We Offer Right Here in Plano

Cancer screening is one of the most important things primary care can do for a patient. Not because we expect the worst, but because early detection changes outcomes dramatically. Most cancers, caught at stage one or two, are far more treatable than the same cancer discovered at stage three or four — and in many cases, the difference is a routine test.

At my practice in Plano, TX, I offer several key cancer screenings in-house and coordinate others based on your risk profile.

Breast Cancer Screening

Mammography is the standard for breast cancer screening, and I coordinate referrals for imaging when needed. But the conversation starts here: I review your family history, assess your risk, and determine whether you should start screening at 40 or earlier, how often you need it, and whether additional testing like MRI is appropriate.

Women with first-degree relatives who had breast cancer, or who carry BRCA1/BRCA2 variants, fall into higher-risk categories and may benefit from more frequent or earlier screening. We discuss this together and build a plan that fits your actual risk, not a generic protocol.

Prostate Cancer Screening (PSA)

The PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test measures a protein produced by prostate tissue. Elevated PSA can indicate prostate cancer, but also benign prostate enlargement or infection. This is why the PSA test is interpreted in context — trends over time, rate of change, and patient-specific factors all matter.

I typically discuss PSA screening with:

• Men 50 and older at average risk
• Men 45 and older with a first-degree relative who had prostate cancer
• Men 40 and older with multiple affected relatives or known genetic risk

The decision to screen involves a real conversation about the benefits and limitations of the test. I don’t order PSA without explaining what we’re looking for and what the next steps would be if results are elevated.

Colorectal Cancer Screening

Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers we screen for, because we can often remove precancerous polyps before they become malignant. Screening options include colonoscopy (the gold standard), stool-based tests like FIT (fecal immunochemical test) and Cologuard, and CT colonography.

I order stool-based tests in-house and coordinate colonoscopy referrals when indicated.

Who should be screened:

• Average-risk adults starting at age 45
• Earlier if you have a first-degree relative who had colorectal cancer or polyps before age 60
• Earlier if you have inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis)
• Earlier if you have Lynch syndrome or familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)

The frequency depends on the test chosen and findings on prior exams.

How I Personalize Your Screening Plan

There is no one-size-fits-all screening schedule. Age is a starting point. Family history, genetic risk, lifestyle factors, and your current health status all shape what I recommend and when.

In your annual wellness visit, we go through your screening calendar together — what’s current, what’s overdue, and what’s coming up in the next year or two. I don’t expect patients to track this on their own. That’s what I’m here for.

The best cancer screening is the one that actually happens. I make it easy to schedule, easy to understand, and easy to follow through on.

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Stay current on your screenings. Book an appointment at sophiarahmanmd.setmore.com. We’re located at 1212 Coit Rd, Suite 105, Plano, TX 75075. Accepting new patients in Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Murphy, and surrounding Collin County.