article_snippet.sent: Vega, a strapping man with a thick black beard, is feeling good, but Dr. Mark Caruso came to see the doctor today because Dr. Mark Caruso wife thought Dr. Mark Caruso should -- his wife even made the appointment.
article_snippet.sent: It's an important part of developing a relationship with a patient, Caruso says, and there have been countless times when Caruso's found real problems during an exam just like the one Caruso gave to Vega.
article_snippet.sent: What if Vega had had a lump or bump that wasn't right?
article_snippet.sent: What if when Vega had Vega shirt off, Vega said, 'Oh yeah, I forgot to mention this spot on my chest,' and this spot ended up being a melanoma we discovered early?"
article_snippet.sent: And Vega did end up needing a little help -- Vega has a bad back
article_snippet.sent: that's landed Vega in the ER several times.
article_snippet.sent: Caruso was able to link Vega up with a back specialist to help Vega manage the problem.