What You Need To Know About Men's Health

Blood Tests for Annual Physical:
-PSA
-CBC (anemia )
-Metabolic panel (kidney function)
-Hepatic panel (liver function)
-Lipid panel (good and bad cholesterol)
-Urine analysis (Check for blood)
-Hormone panel: (Thyroid, B12 & Vitamin D, Testosterone)

PCRI's Executive Director, Mark Scholz, MD, lists the essential elements of a good annual physical exam for men with prostate cancer (and aging men in general) to best ward off preventable death, illness, or injury.

0:09 Prostate cancer is usually more of a chronic illness than a terminal one, and it is important not to neglect other aspects of one's health because of a narrow focus on prostate cancer. This video is intended to give an overview of what your doctor should be checking during an annual physical.

1:13 Many people believe that there is a standardized routine for giving blood tests. This is not the case. It can vary from doctor to doctor or from patient to patient. The list at the top of this description includes blood tests that your doctor should be performing in an annual physical.

2:02 A CT scan to check for coronary artery calcium score is recommended every 5-7 years. This can prevent death from a sudden heart attack.

2:38 Anyone who smokes should be getting CT scans of the chest on an annual basis. Lung cancer is incurable once it metastasizes, but can be cured if it is found early. If you know anyone who smokes and isn't having this done, then do your best to convince them.

3:04 Historically, people have undergone scopes to check for colon cancer; however, there is now a test called Cologuard which can be performed at home every 3 years to screen for colon cancer.

3:23 Men who are undergoing hormone therapy for prostate cancer are at risk of developing osteoporosis. If left untreated, osteoporosis can lead to severe bone damage and fractures. Osteoporosis can be prevented with a variety of medications and it can be detected with a Dexa or QCT scan

4:02 There is a new vaccine for shingles which is advisable since it is a common disease (occurring in 1/3 people) that is chronic in 10% of cases. The vaccine is called Shingrix and you can get it at a pharmacy without even needing a prescription.

4:33 A yearly visit with the eye doctor is important, even if you do not wear glasses or contacts, because glaucoma can develop silently and cause permanent vision loss.

5:07 Checking the skin is the final element of a good annual physical. This is especially important in places with a lot of sun exposure. Large lesions on the skin need to be watched and may even need to be biopsied to check for skin cancers like melanoma, which is rare, but deadly if left unchecked.

Don’t know your stage? Take the quiz: Visit http://www.prostatecancerstaging.org

To learn more about prostate cancer visit http://www.pcri.org

To download the free Staging Guide visit http://www.pcri.org/prostate-cancer-s...

Who we are:

The Prostate Cancer Research Institute (PCRI) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to helping you research your treatment options. We understand that you have many questions, and we can help you find the answers that are specific to your case. All of our resources are designed by a multidisciplinary team of advocates and expert physicians, for patients. We believe that by educating yourself about the disease, you will have more productive interactions with your medical professionals and receive better individualized care. Feel free to explore our website or call our free helpline at 1 (800) 641-7274 with any questions that you have. Our Federal Tax ID # is 95-4617875 and qualifies for maximum charitable gift deductions by individual donors.

The information on the Prostate Cancer Research Institute's YouTube channel is provided with the understanding that the Institute is not engaged in rendering medical advice or recommendation. The information provided in these videos should not replace consultations with qualified health care professionals to meet your individual medical needs.

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