lifestyle,” he says. Since the program
ended, his cholesterol level has gone
down and he exercises at least five times a
week, gets regular checkups and follows a
healthy diet. Mr. Gamez completed a half
marathon last December.
Male health issues and
screenings
In the United States, almost one-third of
all men (and women) are obese. As this
number grows to epidemic proportions, so
does the number of men diagnosed with
diabetes and the number who will die from
heart disease and stroke. (It’s important to
note that non-obese people can develop
these diseases as well.)
Cancer is also high on the list of
leading health issues. Scott & White offers
wellness programs, including “Enuff of the
Puff ” for smoking cessation. Lifestyle
changes that focus on quitting smoking
and losing weight are important ways
to reduce risk for cancer, cardiovascular
disease and stroke.
Other risk factors, such as high
cholesterol and high blood pressure, can be
identified through screenings offered by
the Heart and Vascular Institute. There
patients can pinpoint their risk factors and
address them through dietary counseling,
diabetes classes and other resources.
(Adults can also log on to sw.org and
search “HeartAware” for a free online
risk assessment.)
The Executive Health Program is
helping men and women—specifically
business executives—to make time for
comprehensive, prevention-based medical
screenings. In one day, a medical exam is
completed by physicians certified in
internal medicine. The exam includes a
CT (computed tomography) scan of the
coronary arteries and/or a treadmill stress
EKG test to assess coronary blood flow
and heart function, bone density
measurement, a complete blood screening
and other routine tests. Screenings
appropriate for a person’s age and risk
factors are also recommended and
completed during the appointment.
Follow-up recommendations are provided
as well. A written summary and a copy of
lab reports will be sent to each patient, and
if requested, to his physician. Patients
come from as far away as Canada to
participate in the program.
Prostate cancer and “robotic”
technology
Many types of cancer may not cause any
symptoms until the disease is quite
advanced. This is especially true of prostate
cancer. By the time men experience
difficulty urinating, blood in the urine,
urinary obstructions or bone pain, the
disease can be very entrenched. That’s why
early detection is so important.
“Screening can diagnose prostate
cancer early when the likelihood of cure is
greatest,” says Dr. Wagner. “However, a
screening test doesn’t ‘stage’ the cancer.
Further tests are needed for that. The
earlier a cancer is diagnosed, the better the
chances that treatment will be successful.”
Starting at age 40, healthy men
should talk to their physicians about the
risks and benefits of screening, which
includes an initial prostate-specific antigen
(PSA) blood test and a digital rectal exam
(DRE). African American men or men
with a family history of prostate cancer are
at increased risk of prostate cancer.
Scott & White Healthcare locations
offer PSA screenings; free screenings also
are available for patients without health
insurance, including an annual screening
that is offered by Scott & White in
September as a community service.
Baseline screenings help physicians
identify changes in PSA levels as men age,
including a sudden dramatic increase that
might indicate the presence of cancer.
Overall, many physicians encourage
younger patients with a relatively long life
“I was a tough guy and
always thought I was
in great health.”
—Carlos Gamez
expectancy to be screened for prostate
cancer, because they are likely to benefit
from early diagnosis and treatment.
“Men are often afraid of possible
treatment-related side effects. Fortunately,
treatment options for prostate cancer
have improved significantly over the past
20 years to minimize this aspect,” says
Dr. Wagner.
For the past five years, Scott & White
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