By John E. West, M.D., F.A.A.F.P.
Good health begins with each of us. Early detection of disease is the key to curing or managing medical problems. At the medical practice of John E. West, M.D., P.C., we are your partners in wellness.
Many medical problems do not have outward signs in the early stages. You may not feel your blood pressure rising. Half of all patients with heart disease will die of sudden death as the first indication of disease. Diabetes may progress to very advanced stages before you notice excessive thirst or increased urination. Cancer of the lung, colon, breast, or prostate may be almost untreatable by the time you have complaints.
So, what should you do? Simply stated, if you are over 40 years old, you need a yearly medical exam. Men need a physical exam every year with a rectal exam, a stool test for blood to screen for colon cancer, and a PSA blood test to screen for prostate cancer. Women need a physical exam every year for GYN, breast, and colon cancer screenings. Tests for cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, etc. should be done periodically.
Women need a family physician or internist to diagnose and treat non-GYN related issues. The GYN exam is not a complete physical! There are many other screening tests, particularly for heart disease, that are necessary to assess your complete medical health.
Every male over 40 should have the PSA blood test for prostate cancer every year. I have found at least two dozen men from 45-55 with prostate cancer who had normal prostate blood tests. If the PSA rises more than 1.0 in one year, even if it still is normal, I refer the patient to the urologist for evaluation. We have detected many cases of prostate cancer in very early stages allowing for early treatment and extremely high cure rates.
A full colonoscopy for men and women over the age of 50 is recommended for colon cancer screening. This test is done every 10 years. The test has low risk and is virtually painless. Colon cancer is the second most common cancer. If you have not had yours, check on it today.
Be proactive in your health. To learn more about us, visit our website at www.johnewestmd.com.
