Only clinic of its kind in Northern California is committed to timely cancer diagnosis and care
UC Davis Health internist Santiago Lombo Luque is joining with Erin Meierhenry Noren to expand services to patients suspected of having cancer.
Located at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, the new clinic is the first of its kind in Northern California. The clinic evaluates pain and other symptoms as well as test results that may signal a suspicion of cancer.
Noren, who is assistant director for cancer center initiatives in the Department of Internal Medicine, collaborated with cancer center Director Primo “Lucky” Lara Jr. to open the clinic in 2022.
“We saw a need to step in to help patients who received alarming news about abnormal test results indicating they may have cancer,” said Lara. “People are in a vulnerable state when this happens, and there is an important need to be seen quickly and compassionately while getting a diagnosis confirmed.”
Patients are referred quickly to clinic
People often come to the clinic as referrals from the emergency department or from within and outside of the UC Davis Health Primary Care network.
“A broad spectrum of patients we see at the clinic are experiencing everything from mildly concerning findings or symptoms to those that clearly signal metastatic cancer of unknown primary origin,” said Noren. “Patients are very anxious about a possible diagnosis of cancer and the uncertainty of what is happening to their health.”
The critical role of a timely cancer evaluation
Some of the people seen at the clinic come to the emergency department due to acute symptoms such as pain. They are often from underserved communities and do not know where or how to seek help due to lack of consistent access to health care.
“Many patients we see live far away and do not have a primary care physician, so there isn’t anyone to synthesize all the information and coordinate the diagnostic tests that are required,” Lombo Luque said.
Often, the shocking news of a cancer diagnosis comes with the results of an X-ray scan or other imaging that indicates the presence of a mass or lesion. By that time, the cancer is often in an advanced stage.
“Time is of the essence,” Lombo Luque adds. “While helping to manage cancer-related pain, we also help to pinpoint the origin of the cancer.”
Fortunately, he and Noren have access to state-of-the-art radiology, laboratory, and pathology services at UC Davis. They also can quickly consult with a variety of cancer specialists at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center as well as its specialty tumor boards, which hold meetings to assess cases, confirm diagnoses, and offer treatment options.
As internists who specifically partner with the cancer center, Noren and Lombo Luque improve coordination of care and increase patient access to the cancer experts.
“As a ‘cancer detective,’ I take great pride in the ability to help a person who is in limbo to reach a diagnosis,” said Noren. “This allows them to either move forward with cancer treatment or, alternatively, relieves the burden of a possible cancer diagnosis so they can move on with their life. It’s about turning uncertainty into a diagnosis.”
For an appointment with the clinic, call 916-734-5959.
