Make a Difference in Men’s Health: Tips and Services for Better Living

By Douglas Ashinsky, M.D., board-certified in internal medicine at Robert Wood Johnson Physician Enterprise – Warren Internal Medicine

Studies show that men are far less likely than women to seek routine, preventative health services. In fact, according to Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) compared to women, men are 24 percent less likely to have visited a physician within the last year. June is National Men’s Health Month, an initiative which promotes the awareness of men’s health through the knowledge of early detection, treatment and preventive steps necessary to beat illnesses, ensuring a long, healthy and happy life. In honor of Men’s Health Month, I encourage you to educate yourself and other men in your life on the importance of early detection, and to regularly schedule the following, important preventative services:

• Heart health screenings –High blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, and smoking addiction are key risk factors for heart disease, the leading cause of death of men in the United States (CDC). Regular visits to your doctor for cholesterol and blood pressure screenings will help you detect any heart health issues early on, allowing for preventive measures.
• Prostate screenings – Regular physician examinations and PSA (prostate specific antigen) screenings are critical in the early detection of prostate cancer, the second most common cause of cancer death in men, behind only lung cancer (American Cancer Society).  A PSA screening involves a simple blood test that measures the PSA level in the bloodstream. It is recommended that men over the age of 50 receive this test every year.  Men who are at high-risk should begin screenings earlier.
• Lung screenings – A low-dose CT scan is the best way to test for lung cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer deaths in men in the United States.  It is recommended that if you are a smoker or former smoker, ages 55 and older, you should consider screening through low-dose CT scans each year to monitor for lung cancer. 
• Colon screenings – Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in American men (CDC).  Colorectal cancer screening exams detect the disease early on, when treatment is most effective.  For men over the age of 50, a colonoscopy every 10 years is strongly recommended to screen for colon cancer.
• Skin cancer screenings – Men over the age of 50 are more than twice as likely to develop and die from skin cancer than women (Skin Cancer Foundation).  Regular visits to your dermatologist and monthly self-exams of your skin are strongly recommended. If you find any suspicious moles new or old, visit your physician for further examination and care.
• Discuss access to clinical trials and treatments with your doctor - Cancer is often aggressive and if found at a later stage, requires more treatment or other options.  Discuss your risk factors with your doctor and if diagnosed available treatment options. Cancer clinical trials vary, offering the opportunity to test new methods that detect, prevent, diagnose or treat different types of cancers. Participating hospitals offer a small percentage of patients to partake in such trials, providing the finest, progressive cancer care.

While being aware of your health risks and the many steps and screenings is crucial to your well-being, it is also extremely important to take necessary action as a means to reduce your risk of disease. Vital steps toward a healthier lifestyle include eating a healthy diet, staying physically active, quitting smoking, and an annual visit to your doctor for a physical exam.  Depending upon your family history and other potential risk factors, you may be more likely to develop certain conditions. As part of Men’s Health Month, I encourage you to take steps towards an improved lifestyle and seek regular medical advice and attention, especially if you notice any abnormalities. 

If diagnosed, it’s important to discuss all treatment options with your doctor and know that there is comprehensive cancer care within your community. With the expansion of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital into the Somerset area, patients now have increased access to clinical trials through the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey in New Brunswick, NJ as well as the Steeplechase Cancer Center in Somerville, NJ. Through prevention, early detection and advanced treatments, we’re working towards healthier communities.

To learn more about preventive screenings please visit the health library section of www.rwjuh.edu. To learn more about increased access to clinical trials, visit http://www.rwjuh.edu/scc/clinicalresearchtrials.aspx or http://cinj.org/clinical-trials/index. For more information on Dr. Ashinsky and the Robert Wood Johnson Physician Enterprise, please visit their website at www.rwjpe.com.