Located in Marina Del Rey, California, Prostate Cancer Oncology Specialists focus exclusively on treating prostate cancer. Board-certified medical oncologists and internists Mark Scholz and Richard Lam, and board-certified internist Patricia Chang first empower patients with useful information so they can choose the treatment that will be best for them. This practice monitors over 400 men who are following a regimen of active surveillance. The active surveillance regimens include PSA testing every three months, digital rectal examination twice a year and needle biopsy of the prostate after one year, and every two to three years thereafter. In addition, assessment includes testing with urinary PCA-3, imaging with color Doppler ultrasound and Endorectal MRI. Active surveillance is viewed as a commitment to monitor closely and intervene at the first sign of growth or change in the cancer. If and/or when treatment is indicated, consideration is given to hormone therapy, immunotherapy, surgery, radiation, brachytherapy, cryotherapy, nutritional and alternative therapies. HIFU and chemotherapy are also given consideration.

Mark Scholz, MD

A board-certified internist and medical oncologist, Mark C. Scholz, MD, serves as medical director of Prostate Oncology Specialists Inc. in Marina del Rey, CA and executive director of the Prostate Cancer Research Institute (PCRI), a non-profit company in Los Angeles, CA. He is a renowned expert on management and treatment for prostate cancer using hormone intervention, immunotherapy, active surveillance, chemotherapy and angiogenesis as well as vitamin, herbal and other forms of lifestyle counseling.

After receiving his medical degree from Creighton University in Omaha, NE, Dr. Scholz completed his internal medicine internship and medical oncology residency at University of Southern California (USC) Medical Center. He was awarded a medical oncology fellowship at Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center. Dr. Scholz served as oncology director at the Memorial Campus of the Centinela Freeman Regional Medical Center from 1996-2001. His current hospital affiliations include St. John’s Health Center, Marina del Rey Hospital, Los Angeles County Hospital and Motion Picture Hospital. He is the past president and co-founder of PCRI and his society memberships include the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Therapeutic Radiology, American Urologic Associate (affiliate) and European Associate of Urology. He continues as a primary investigator in various prostate cancer clinical trials and has authored numerous scholarly articles in his area of expertise.

Dr. Scholz is a co-author of the book Invasion of the Prostate Snatchers: No More Unnecessary Biopsies, Radical Treatment or Loss of Potency and has written and produced extensive educational material on the subject of prostate cancer in various medias which include DVDs, blogs, newsletters and pamphlets. He is an educational speaker on behalf of Amgen, Dendreon and Sanofi-Aventis. He is frequently an invited guest speaker in the community at prostate cancer conferences and prostate cancer support groups throughout the country.

Richard Lam, MD

A board-certified internist and oncologist, Richard Lam, MD, has been specializing full time in the treatment of prostate cancer since 2001. He is director of clinical research at Prostate Oncology Specialists, Inc.

Dr. Lam has written numerous articles based on his research. He is an active member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Hematology. He also provides free prostate cancer management advice to patients at “Patient to Physician,” which can be found at www.pcri.org. Dr. Lam continues to promote prostate cancer awareness and education by giving lectures at various medical conferences and prostate support groups throughout the country. He is particularly interested in utilizing state-of-the-art therapeutics for advanced prostate cancer.

Dr. Lam received his undergraduate degree in biology, magna cum laude, at UCLA. He then went on to earn his medical degree at UCLA School of Medicine before completing his residency training in the specialty of internal medicine at UCLA Center of Health Sciences. He completed his oncology and hematology fellowship at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

Patricia Chang, MD

A board-certified internist, Patricia J. Chang, MD, serves as a physician at Prostate Oncology Specialists Inc. Her general medicine experience enhances her knowledge of the management and treatment of prostate cancer.

After receiving her medical degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, Dr. Chang completed her internal medicine internship and residency at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Long Beach, California. She has worked as a hospitalist and a primary care provider at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, CA and Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, in Long Beach, CA. She was awarded first place for the Pasadena Patient Satisfaction Survey. Before joining Prostate Oncology Specialists, Inc. in 2011, Dr. Chang owned and operated a successful private practice in Long Beach, CA for 12 years.

She resides in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter.