Metro Health Physicians | Internal Medicine & Gastroenterology

Cancer screening · Limited-time patient offer

More Options for Early Cancer Detection: Understanding the Galleri® Test

A single blood draw can screen for a cancer signal shared by more than 50 types of cancer—adding another option to a personalized preventive-care plan.

Written byHelen P. Gouzoulis, M.D.Internal Medicine

Cancer screening is not one-size-fits-all. Mammograms, colonoscopies, cervical screening, prostate discussions, and low-dose CT scans remain important for eligible patients—but those established tests cover only a limited number of cancers. Today, appropriate patients can also discuss multi-cancer early detection testing as an additional option.

What is the Galleri test?

Galleri is a prescription blood test designed to look for a signal associated with more than 50 types of cancer. If a cancer signal is detected, the test also predicts where in the body that signal may be coming from, which can help guide the next steps in a diagnostic evaluation.

The test is recommended for adults with an elevated risk of cancer, such as people age 50 or older. Age is not the only consideration. Your personal and family history, smoking history, previous findings, symptoms, and overall health should all be reviewed with your physician before deciding whether testing is appropriate.

Why having another option matters

Many cancers do not currently have a routine screening test. Multi-cancer early detection gives eligible patients an additional way to look for a cancer signal before symptoms develop. It does not guarantee that a cancer will be found early, and it does not detect every cancer, but it may broaden the screening conversation beyond the few cancers covered by established screening programs.

I want my patients to know that they have options. The right plan may include recommended routine screenings, Galleri, both, or neither at a particular time. The decision should be individualized—not based on fear, pressure, or a single test.

Galleri adds to screening—it does not replace it

Galleri should be used in addition to the routine cancer screenings your healthcare provider recommends. A “No Cancer Signal Detected” result does not rule out cancer. A “Cancer Signal Detected” result is not a cancer diagnosis and requires follow-up testing, such as imaging or other medically established diagnostic procedures. False-positive and false-negative results can occur.

Who should not use the test?

Galleri is not recommended for people who are pregnant, age 21 or younger, or undergoing active cancer treatment. Anyone with new or concerning symptoms should speak with a clinician promptly; this screening test is not a substitute for evaluating symptoms.

A limited-time opportunity for Dr. Gouzoulis’s patients

Through this exclusive promotion, current patients of Dr. Gouzoulis may receive the Galleri test at the promotional price of $599. To qualify for this price, the blood draw must be completed no later than October 2, 2026. Because time is limited, please contact our office promptly if you would like to discuss whether the test is right for you.

You have screening optionsAsk which established screenings are due for you—and whether multi-cancer early detection may be a useful addition.

Galleri is available by prescription. It has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The GRAIL clinical laboratory is CLIA-certified and accredited by the College of American Pathologists. This article is educational and does not replace individualized medical advice.

Test information and safety details: Galleri patient information, Galleri patient FAQs, and the September 2026 promotional flyer.

Wellness · IV Therapy · Coming Soon

IV Therapy: Personalized Hydration and Wellness Support

What IV therapy can offer, how different drips are designed, and why your medical history should guide every treatment.

Written byMarkos I. Koutsos, M.D.Gastroenterology & Liver Disease

Intravenous therapy delivers fluid—and, when appropriate, selected vitamins or minerals—directly into the bloodstream. This bypasses the digestive tract and allows the ingredients to be available immediately. That direct route can be useful in the right circumstances, but it does not mean that every person needs an IV or that an infusion is automatically better than drinking fluids, eating a balanced diet, or taking an oral supplement.

What are the potential benefits of IV therapy?

The clearest role of an IV is fluid replacement when oral hydration is inadequate or impractical. Depending on a person’s health, symptoms, laboratory results, medications, and goals, a physician may also consider selected nutrients. Some patients appreciate the convenience of receiving hydration and an individualized nutrient plan in one supervised visit.

Benefits vary, and high-quality evidence for many commercial “wellness drip” claims remains limited—especially in people who are already well nourished and do not have a deficiency. Our approach will be purposeful and medically guided: the goal is not to promise a cure or a quick fix, but to determine whether IV therapy is reasonable for you and, if so, which formulation is appropriate.

What types of drips may be available?

Final formulations and availability will be announced at launch. Anticipated categories include:

Hydration support: IV fluid intended to replenish fluids and support balance when clinically appropriate.
Energy and wellness support: A personalized formulation that may include selected B vitamins or other nutrients after medical review.
Immune support: A carefully selected nutrient blend that may include vitamin C and other ingredients when appropriate. It is supportive care—not a treatment or prevention method for infection.
Recovery and mineral support: Hydration with selected vitamins or minerals, potentially including magnesium, based on your history, medications, kidney function, and individual needs.
Weight-loss support: Hydration and nutrient support designed to complement—not replace—a physician-guided nutrition, activity, and weight-management plan.

Why physician supervision matters

IV therapy is a medical procedure. Before treatment, we plan to review your medical conditions, medications, allergies, pregnancy status when relevant, and prior laboratory results. A history of kidney disease, heart disease, fluid-retention problems, certain medication interactions, or other conditions may change the formula, require additional testing, or make IV therapy inappropriate.

Possible complications include bruising or discomfort at the insertion site, infection, vein irritation, fluid overload, medication or nutrient interactions, and excessive levels of certain vitamins or minerals. Thoughtful patient selection, appropriate dosing, sterile technique, and professional monitoring are essential.

A private experience designed around you

Metro Health Physicians P.C. is preparing a fully private IV suite—not a crowded infusion lounge. Our goal is to combine comfort and privacy with an individualized, evidence-informed approach. Each patient will be evaluated before treatment, and recommendations will be based on health needs rather than a one-size-fits-all menu.

Coming soonJoin our VIP waitlist to receive launch updates, availability information, and details about our IV therapy options.

This article is for general education and is not a diagnosis, treatment recommendation, or substitute for individualized medical advice. IV therapy is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Individual results may vary.

Medical references: Cleveland Clinic: IV fluids, Cleveland Clinic: IV vitamin therapy, and Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin: evidence review.

Preventive care · Adults over 40

Your Annual Visit After 40: Screening Conversations That Matter

Your annual physical is an opportunity to review your risks, update your preventive-care plan, and decide which screenings are due now, later, or not at all.

Written byHelen P. Gouzoulis, M.D.Internal Medicine

Turning 40 does not mean that every screening test suddenly becomes necessary every year. It does mean that prevention becomes increasingly important—and more personalized. Your age, sex, family history, medications, lifestyle, previous results, and personal risk factors all help determine the right schedule.

Start with the health numbers that shape your risk

Blood pressure should be checked regularly, and adults age 40 and older are generally screened at least annually. Your annual visit is also a good time to review weight, cholesterol, blood sugar, cardiovascular risk, tobacco and alcohol use, sleep, activity, and emotional health. Diabetes screening is especially important for adults ages 35 to 70 who have overweight or obesity; the timing of repeat cholesterol and glucose testing depends on your results and overall risk.

Review the cancer screenings that apply to you

Average-risk adults should begin colorectal cancer screening at age 45 and continue through age 75. Options include stool-based testing and visual examinations such as colonoscopy, each with a different recommended interval. A family history, prior polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, or certain inherited conditions may call for earlier or more frequent screening.

For women at average risk, screening mammography is recommended every two years from ages 40 through 74. Cervical cancer screening usually continues through age 65, but Pap and HPV testing are not necessarily annual; the interval depends on the test used and your prior results. Men ages 55 to 69 should discuss the potential benefits and harms of PSA-based prostate cancer screening before deciding whether it is right for them.

Lung cancer screening is not recommended for everyone. Annual low-dose CT screening may be appropriate for adults ages 50 to 80 with at least a 20 pack-year smoking history who currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years.

Do not overlook bone health and other preventive needs

Bone-density screening is recommended for women age 65 and older, as well as younger postmenopausal women whose risk assessment shows increased fracture risk. Depending on your history, your physician may also discuss HIV or hepatitis C testing, sexually transmitted infection screening, vision and hearing, skin concerns, immunizations, fall risk, and mental health.

Make your annual visit work harder for you

Bring an updated medication and supplement list, your family history, dates and results of prior screenings, and any changes in symptoms. Ask which tests are due, which can wait, and how your personal risk changes the usual schedule. Preventive care works best when it is planned before symptoms appear.

At your next annual physical, ask:“Which preventive screenings are due for me this year based on my age and personal risk?”

This article is for general education and is not a diagnosis or a substitute for individualized medical advice. Recommendations may differ for people with symptoms, prior abnormal findings, or higher risk.

Preventive-care references: blood pressure, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, and osteoporosis.

Colorectal cancer prevention

Cologuard or Colonoscopy: Understanding the Difference

Both are recognized colorectal cancer screening options, but they do different jobs. Understanding those differences can help you choose the test that offers the right level of protection.

Written byMarkos I. Koutsos, M.D.Gastroenterology & Liver Disease

Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers when screening is completed at the appropriate time. For most adults at average risk, regular screening should begin at age 45. Two options patients frequently ask about are Cologuard and colonoscopy. Although both can play a role in screening, they are not interchangeable.

What is Cologuard?

Cologuard is a noninvasive, at-home stool test that looks for hidden blood and certain DNA changes that may be associated with colorectal cancer or advanced precancerous growths. For eligible adults at average risk, it is generally repeated every three years after a negative result.

The advantages of Cologuard

The sample is collected privately at home.
No sedation or bowel preparation is required.
Patients generally do not need time away from work or a driver.
It gives eligible average-risk patients a noninvasive screening option.

For someone who is medically eligible but unwilling or unable to schedule a colonoscopy, completing an appropriate stool-based screening test is better than postponing screening altogether.

The limitations of Cologuard

It cannot directly examine the colon or show where an abnormality is located.
It cannot take a biopsy or remove a precancerous polyp.
A false-positive result can occur, leading to a colonoscopy that finds no cancer or advanced precancerous lesion.
A false-negative result can occur even when cancer or a significant polyp is present.
Every positive result must be followed by a colonoscopy.
A negative result does not guarantee that cancer or precancerous polyps are absent.

Cologuard is intended for screening eligible people at average risk who do not have symptoms. It is generally not appropriate for people with rectal bleeding, unexplained iron-deficiency anemia, a persistent change in bowel habits, a history of certain polyps or colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, a significant family history, or a hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome. These situations require an individualized discussion and often a colonoscopy.

What makes colonoscopy different?

Colonoscopy allows a gastroenterologist to examine the lining of the entire colon and rectum with a small flexible camera. If a polyp is found, it can often be removed during the same procedure before it has an opportunity to become cancerous. Suspicious areas can also be biopsied immediately.

This is the key distinction: Cologuard looks for warning signs that an abnormality may be present, while colonoscopy can find, diagnose, and often remove that abnormality in one examination. For many average-risk adults with a normal, high-quality colonoscopy, the next screening examination may not be needed for 10 years.

Considerations with colonoscopy

Colonoscopy requires bowel preparation, usually involves sedation, and generally requires someone to accompany you home. As with any procedure, there are risks, including reactions to sedation, bleeding—especially after polyp removal—and, rarely, a tear in the colon. Your physician can explain how these considerations apply to your health.

Which screening option should you choose?

The best screening test is one that is medically appropriate and completed on schedule. Cologuard can be useful for properly selected, average-risk adults without symptoms. However, for patients who are medically able and willing to complete the procedure, colonoscopy often provides the most comprehensive evaluation and the added opportunity to prevent cancer through polyp removal.

I encourage you to discuss your age, symptoms, family history, prior polyps, and preferences with your physician. Most importantly, do not delay screening because you are uncertain which test to choose. A thoughtful conversation is the best place to begin.

Ask your physician:“Based on my personal and family history, is Cologuard appropriate for me, or would colonoscopy provide a more complete examination?”

This article is for general education and is not a diagnosis or a substitute for individualized medical advice.

Medical references: American Cancer Society screening-test comparison and Cologuard indications and risk information.

Fatty Liver Disease: Why Fibrosis Screening Matters

Fatty liver disease can be silent for years. A simple, noninvasive FibroScan can help us look beyond liver fat and assess whether scarring may be developing.

Written byMarkos Koutsos, MDGastroenterology & Liver Disease

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)—often called fatty liver disease—occurs when excess fat builds up in the liver in association with metabolic risk factors. Because it usually causes few or no symptoms, important changes can occur before a person knows there is a problem.

Fat is only part of the story

For some people, fatty liver remains stable. For others, ongoing inflammation can lead to fibrosis, or scar tissue. Identifying fibrosis early matters because more advanced scarring can progress to cirrhosis and increase the risk of serious liver complications. Routine blood work and standard imaging may not tell the whole story, which is why a focused fibrosis assessment may be helpful.

What is a FibroScan?

FibroScan is a quick, painless test performed without needles, sedation, or an incision. It uses vibration-controlled transient elastography to estimate liver stiffness, which can be associated with fibrosis, and it also measures liver fat. Results are interpreted together with your history, examination, laboratory tests, and other imaging—not as a stand-alone diagnosis.

Why repeat testing may be recommended

Liver health can change as weight, blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure, medications, and other conditions change. For patients with known fatty liver or ongoing metabolic risk, I may recommend a FibroScan yearly as part of a personalized monitoring plan. Others may need testing more or less often. Your recommended interval should be based on your individual risk and prior results.

At your next annual physical, ask:“Is a liver fibrosis assessment or FibroScan appropriate for me?”