Cancer Prevention and Early Screening in Chicago
Medically reviewed by Anand Thakkar, MD · Updated October 2026
Cancer Prevention at Bliss MD in Brief
For cancer prevention Chicago patients can act on, Bliss MD starts with a 60-minute visit with Dr. Anand Thakkar, MD, an ABIM board-certified internist with 15 years of experience. Together you map your family history, lifestyle and environmental exposures. You confirm which guideline screenings are due, and you build a personal plan around the risk factors you can change. Where it fits, we add advanced testing for environmental chemicals and estrogen metabolism, plus the Galleri multi-cancer blood test as an extra layer on top of standard screening. No program can guarantee that cancer won’t develop. A clear, personal plan helps you act on the factors within your control and catch problems as early as possible.
Who This Is For
Our cancer prevention Chicago program suits:
- Adults with a parent, sibling or child who had cancer
- People who want to know which screenings they’re due for and make sure none are missed
- Survivors who want a long-term plan after treatment ends (see also our integrative cancer therapy page)
- Anyone concerned about plastics, pesticides or other everyday chemical exposures
- Women who want to understand estrogen balance and hormone-related risk
Step 1: Your Personal Risk Map
Dr. Thakkar reviews:
- Family history. This covers which relatives were affected, which cancers and at what ages. Some patterns call for genetic counseling and testing, such as for BRCA1/2 or Lynch syndrome. If yours does, we refer you to a genetic counselor.
- Personal history. Smoking, alcohol, sun exposure, past radiation, chronic infections such as HPV or hepatitis, and inflammatory conditions.
- Metabolic health. Blood sugar, insulin resistance, blood pressure and inflammation markers, which are linked to the risk of several cancers.
- Environment. Your water, home, work and personal-care routines.
Step 2: Proven Screening Comes First
Guideline screenings remain the foundation of cancer prevention. We make sure yours are scheduled. Typical U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations for average-risk adults include:
| Screening | Who it’s generally for |
|---|---|
| Mammogram (breast) | Women 40–74, every 2 years |
| Colonoscopy or stool-based test (colorectal) | Adults 45–75 |
| Pap and/or HPV test (cervical) | Women 21–65 |
| Low-dose CT (lung) | Adults 50–80 with a 20 pack-year smoking history who smoke now or quit within 15 years |
| PSA (prostate) | Men 55–69, after a shared decision with their doctor |
Your schedule may start earlier or happen more often if your risk is higher. We coordinate referrals to your primary care doctor, gynecologist or a local imaging center as needed.
Step 3: Advanced Testing When It Adds Value
Beyond standard labs, two tests help personalize prevention:
- Environmental chemical testing. The Mosaic Diagnostics TOXDetect Profile (urine) looks for markers of plastic chemicals such as phthalates and bisphenols, glyphosate, organophosphate pesticides and solvents. These are possible contributing factors, not proven causes for any individual. When levels are high, they give you a clear target to reduce.
- Estrogen metabolism testing. A urine hormone-metabolite panel shows how your body breaks down estrogen. This helps guide nutrition, gut and liver support, especially for women with a family history of breast cancer.
More detail is on our functional medicine testing page.
Step 4: A Plan You Can Live With
Your cancer prevention Chicago plan focuses on changes with real evidence behind them. It may include:
- Not smoking, and limiting alcohol. These are two of the largest modifiable cancer risk factors.
- Daily movement and strength training, for metabolic and immune health
- A plant-forward, high-fiber diet with plenty of cruciferous vegetables, which also supports healthy estrogen clearance
- Lower chemical exposure: filtered water, glass or stainless food storage, no heating food in plastic, and cleaner personal-care products
- Sun protection and HPV vaccination where appropriate
- Gut and liver support, based on your results (detox therapy and gut health)
- Sleep and stress care, because both affect immune function
We recheck your labs over time so you can see what’s changing.
Step 5: The Galleri Multi-Cancer Blood Test (Optional)
For some adults, especially those 50 and older or with higher risk, the Galleri test looks for a shared cancer signal in the blood across many cancer types. Galleri complements standard screenings; it does not replace mammograms, colonoscopy or other recommended tests. A negative result does not rule out cancer, and a positive result needs follow-up testing to confirm.
What We Don't Do
- We don’t promise that any test, supplement or detox will prevent cancer.
- We don’t use advanced testing in place of guideline screening.
- If you have a cancer diagnosis or a concerning symptom, we don’t delay referral to an oncologist or specialist.
Related Pages
- Integrative cancer therapy, supportive care during and after treatment
- Galleri testing
- Functional medicine testing · Microplastic detox
- Hormone replacement therapy, including how hormone choices are made when breast cancer runs in your family
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you guarantee I won't get cancer?
No one can. Prevention lowers risk where evidence supports it and helps find problems earlier. That’s why proven screening stays at the center of every plan.
Do I still need a mammogram or colonoscopy if I do advanced testing?
Yes. Advanced testing and Galleri add information. They do not replace guideline screenings.
Should I have genetic testing?
It depends on your family history. If your history suggests an inherited syndrome, Dr. Thakkar refers you to genetic counseling, where testing can be ordered and explained.
What does toxin testing actually show?
The TOXDetect urine profile measures markers of specific chemicals, such as phthalates, bisphenols and glyphosate. It shows your current exposure, which helps target what to change. It does not diagnose cancer or predict who will get it.
Is estrogen metabolism testing only for women?
It’s most often used for women with a personal or family history of hormone-sensitive cancers. Men can also be tested when hormone balance is part of their plan.
How often should my prevention plan be updated?
Usually once a year, or sooner if your family history, health or screening results change.
Visit Bliss MD
Cancer prevention Chicago visits are available at both clinics.
Bliss MD – Lincoln Park
2707 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614
Phone: (630) 289-0440
Bliss MD – Hanover Park (near Schaumburg)
1802 Irving Park Rd, Hanover Park, IL 60133
Phone: (630) 289-0440
Book a Consultation · Free 15-minute discovery call: (630) 289-0440
Sources and Disclaimer
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Recommendations (breast, colorectal, cervical, lung, prostate cancer screening). https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/topic_search_results?topic_status=P&category%5B%5D=15
- National Cancer Institute. Cancer Prevention Overview (PDQ®). https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/patient-prevention-overview-pdq
- National Cancer Institute. Genetic Testing for Inherited Cancer Susceptibility Syndromes. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/genetics/genetic-testing-fact-sheet
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Endocrine Disruptors. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine
This page is for education only. It is not medical advice. Screening recommendations change, so ask your doctor which tests are right for you.
