A renewed focus on men’s health outlines the importance of keeping up with routine screenings.

For generations, the majority of the male population has largely turned a blind eye toward their overall health and well-being. Whether it’s stubbornness, neglect or simply the belief that “feeling good” means there must be nothing wrong, it’s a mindset that medical providers are desperately trying to change. 

The truth of the matter is that preventative medicine is the best line of defense against serious health issues. Regular checkups provide doctors with a baseline and, if something troubling is detected, those visits mean doctors can intervene early, whether through lifestyle changes or therapies. 

“In general, regardless of one’s gender, health concerns are typically silent in the beginning. That is the purpose of routine screenings: Just because you feel good doesn’t mean that everything internally is going well,” says Dr. Chirag Panchal, a board-certified family medicine physician with Orlando Health. 

Panchal uses the analogy of someone coming down with a cold or the flu. The day that person wakes up feeling lousy is not the flashpoint of when they became sick, but rather the result of their body finally presenting symptoms after a day or two of first becoming ill. 

When it comes to any number of health concerns, early detection proves to be critical because it often allows for a quicker diagnosis and, hopefully, a better prognosis. As a result, when it comes to men specifically, there have been noticeable trends and changes. For example, not too long ago, colon cancer screenings for routine male patients began at age 50. But due to the prevalence of the disease increasing in recent years, it is now suggested that men begin getting screened at age 45.

Similarly, when talking about prostate health, hypertension or diabetes, patients may not feel anything out of the ordinary until problems manifest in a dangerous way. And so the health care industry’s professionals are doing what they can to raise awareness with the male population to convey the importance of being proactive rather than reactive. 

Dr. Vipul Patel serves as the medical director of the Global Robotics Institute at AdventHealth Celebration, as well as the medical director of AdventHealth’s Cancer Institute Urologic Oncology Program. A pioneer in robotic-assisted prostatectomy, his innovations have helped move medicine forward and improve patient outcomes. 

“We know that men’s health is generally underserved in the community and in the country,” he says. “So the key message to get to patients is make sure you talk to your physician about being screened for prostate cancer. It’s a very simple exam and a very simple blood test that can save your life.”

Patel was also instrumental in helping create the Global Robotic Institute’s Blueprint for Men’s Health Program, which offers multi-levels of support to patients recovering from prostate cancer.

“The program really provides all the support that patients need before and after, in terms of recovering and dealing with various issues around prostate cancer,” says Dr. Patel. “Cancer doesn’t stop when you have your treatment, you have to really monitor it for the long-term.”

Visits to one’s specialist can also uncover potential issues as it’s not uncommon for serious underlying conditions to be identified by someone other than your primary care physician.

It’s been said the eyes are the window to the soul, but they are also a true window to our overall health. According to Dr. Nisarg P. Joshi of the Florida Retina Institute, there are a lot of significant connections between the body and the eyes: Issues like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol—all things that tend to affect men more than women—can also impact the eyes in different ways. 

“We find that when patients have ocular issues, they could be the first sign of larger systemic issues. I’ve had patients come in for a routine eye exam, and I look into their eyes and I see a little blockage and I ask them to get their heart checked,” says Dr. Joshi. 

Joshi says he’s also seen patients who have avoided office visits for years because they aren’t suffering from any particular issues and their vision is “fine.” By the time they start to notice something overt, they could have significant damage caused by diabetes, which is one of the leading causes of blindness in the adult population. He also notes that there is some evidence that lower levels of testosterone can affect the eyes. 

“The good thing is a lot of these things are preventable and a lot of times, if they are caught early, they can be managed.”

Dr. Charlie Dunn, a dermatologist with Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery, knows firsthand how a battle with skin cancer can not only impact a patient, but also their loved ones, having experienced this personally with his own family. He is quick to point out that there are unfortunately higher stakes for men when it comes to certain skin cancers. This year, The American Cancer Society estimates that the United States will see approximately 60,550 new melanoma in men versus 44,410 in women. Those staggering statistics should be eye opening for male patients. 

“Men account for two-thirds of melanoma deaths. That survival gap isn’t biology alone; it’s late detection,” says Dr. Dunn. “When melanoma is found while it’s still ‘local,’ the five-year survival rate tops 99%. Once it has spread, it plummets to 35%. Early detection literally buys decades of life.”

With so many in the health care industry working toward a societal shift where men have a renewed focus on taking better care of themselves, customized approaches to treatments and therapies will continue to play an important role. Advancements in technology and other breakthroughs certainly provide hope, but it all starts with the individual taking the initiative to prioritize their health. 

“Men’s health is very important. Early detection and preventative health care is sometimes the difference between treatable and tragic,” says Panchal. “So get the check-up. Go see your doctor. It’s great advice.”

Focus on Men’s Health
Local providers who make patients a priority