Your Health: Body Maintenance

Doctor visits are no fun, but important check-ups should not be missedBody MaintenanceRegular Checkups Are a Lifesaving Part of Medical Care

By Triston V. Sanders

It was July 1999 and 43-year-old Tallahassee resident Mary Petrandis learned her mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Petrandis already was three months late for her annual mammogram and knew she shouldn’t put it off any longer. The teacher at Lawton Chiles High School picked up the phone and went in for the screening.

Afterward, they called and asked her to come back. They wanted more pictures. She had a second mammogram and was sitting in the waiting room when her radiologist came in.

“She started asking me questions. I knew it wasn’t good,” Petrandis said. “They scheduled me for a biopsy. As it turns out, it was positive for cancer. It was an invasive ductal carcinoma.

“I didn’t hear a whole lot after I heard the word ‘cancer,’” Petrandis said. “I went through a grieving process and denial. But I got over that and decided I wanted to fight it and beat it.”

Petrandis believes every woman should follow the American Cancer Society’s recommendation of having a mammogram annually starting at the age of 40.

“If I had waited, I may not be here today,” she said. “If you catch it early, it is curable.”

But Petrandis’ battle isn’t over. In 2004, she found another lump in her sternum. She now is in remission and is optimistic about her future.

Those who believe cancer only goes after middle-age or older people are in for a wake-up call: A student at Petrandis’ school also is fighting for his life.

In 2005, 14-year-old A.J. Trautmann was bitten on the face by a spider while watching a movie. His face swelled, and he was rushed to the emergency room. He had chest pains, shortness of breath and a high fever. He was taken to Shands Children’s Hospital in Gainesville.

At Shands, A.J.’s blood pressure was dangerously low. Doctors wondered how a spider bite could lead to such serious symptoms. Tests were done, and that was when it was discovered that he had acute lymphatic leukemia. Today, A.J. marvels at the strange medical twist.

“If that spider had not bitten me, who knows how long it would have been before I learned that I had leukemia?” he said. Because of his run-in with the creepy crawler, he says his friends have affectionately given him a nickname: “They call me Spiderman.”

Tallahassee’s own Spiderman now is two years into his treatment. A.J. takes chemotherapy every day with steroids. It’s a bumpy road to recovery for the now 16-year-old.

“Every day is up and down,” he said. “I have nausea, vomiting, headaches, stomach cramps and fatigue. As rough as it is, it’s worth it. My life has purpose. I know that I must help others to learn the importance of going to the doctor to get screened.”

Petrandis and A.J. both are key examples of why you should see your doctor even when you don’t feel sick. Your annual exam is a good time to talk to your physician about necessary health screenings. Health screenings are medical exams, interviews and laboratory tests your doctor gives you when you have no signs or symptoms of disease. This is quite different from diagnostic exams and testing, which your doctor performs when you come in with specific physical complaints. Screenings can be lifesaving – and can give you peace of mind, too.

Dr. Joseph L. Camps of Southeastern Urological Center in Tallahassee has practiced here for almost 20 years. He said studies have shown that men are 33 percent less likely to visit a doctor than a woman.

“Prostate screening with a PSA blood test began in the late 1980s, but only 30 to 40 percent of men participate,” Camps said. “I cannot express how important screenings are. With prostate cancer, there can be almost a 100-percent survival rate if caught at an early stage.”

He encourages men to take advantage of an annual health screening offered by his office.

“The screenings are free, and they are done here in our clinic,” Camps said. “This year, it is scheduled for Sept. 11 and 12. All appointments are made through Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. We usually have between 700 and 800 men participate every year.”

Men aren’t the only ones hesitant to go to the doctor. Dr. Ramel Failma, a family medicine physician at Capital Regional Health Care, said many people’s only experience with a doctor is in the emergency room.

“Unless people feel like they have a reason to be concerned about a particular disease, usually because of a direct experience with it – for example, a family member with breast cancer – preventive maintenance is not something many people think about,” Failma said. “People probably get their car maintenance with greater regularity than they would for themselves.”

Failma said that a couple of years ago, a man in his late 50s came to him for a physical exam at the behest of his new, younger wife.

“This gentleman had done well in his business and was leaning toward retirement so he could spend more time with his new mate, see his grandchildren more often and play more golf,” he said.

“He told me he had never been to a doctor in his adult life for anything other than mild illnesses and felt that he was living healthily for a man his age,” Failma said. “But his wife enrolled him on her insurance plan, and he wanted to get a clean bill of health so he could enjoy the rest of his life. I recommended a screening colonoscopy, which should have been brought to his attention when he turned 50.

“He had this performed a few weeks later. While this patient was still in the endoscopy lab, I received a phone call from the gastroenterologist telling me that this man had an obstructing cancerous lesion in his colon ‘the size of an apple.’ Luckily, we found no metastases. He successfully underwent the recommended treatments.”

Every time Failma saw him after that, the man reiterated to the doctor how glad he was that he came to see him and that he felt Failma had saved his life. Failma has a standing invitation to join him on the links.

Make your appointment right now. If you don’t do it for yourself, do it for A.J.

“Most of my friends don’t like to go to the doctor,” the teen said. “It may seem like a big deal, but it’s not. A couple of minutes could save your life. And just think … if you wait, it may be too late to get the chance to fight it off.”

Many of us take our health for granted. We don’t think serious illness will choose us. Remember … it could happen to you.

Contributing writer Triston Sanders is a News Anchor at WCTV. Watch Triston’s televised medical segment “Health Matters” weekday mornings on The Good Morning Show on WCTV.

 

Screening Checklist For Men

The recommendations listed below are based on guidelines developed by the American Academy of Family Physicians and the U.S. Preventative Health Task Force. They are guidelines for how often you should get routine check-ups by your health care provider.

The information below reflects standard health screening guidelines only. Discuss your risk factors for certain diagnoses with your physician.

Men 18-39 years old

Every Year:
• Dental exam

Every 2-3 Years:
• Blood pressure, height and weight measurements, and brief physical
• Have your body mass index (BMI) calculated to screen for obesity. (BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight.) You also can find your own BMI with the calculator from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute at nhlbisupport.com/bmi.

Every 5 Years:
• Cholesterol check

Men 40-65 years old

Every Year:
• Physical exam for cancer (skin, thyroid, lymph nodes, prostate and rectum)
• Dental exam

Every 1-2 Years:
• Height/weight measurements
• Blood pressure check
• Stool sample check for blood
• Vision and glaucoma check

Every 3-5 Years:
• Cholesterol check
• Blood sugar check
• Sigmoidoscopy after age 50 for colon cancer

Men over 65 years old

Every Year:
• Height/weight measurements
• Blood pressure check
• Physical exam for cancers (skin, thyroid, lymph nodes, prostate and rectum)
• Stool sample check for blood
• Dental exam

Every 1-3 Years:
• Thyroid hormone check
• Blood count
• Cholesterol check
• Blood sugar check
• Hearing check
• Vision and glaucoma check
• Lab tests or urine sample

Every 3-5 Years:
• Sigmoidoscopy for colon cancer

Immunizations

Adults should have the following shots:

• Influenza every year
• Tetanus booster at least every 10 years for lockjaw
• Pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine at age 65 

 

Should You Have a PSA Test?

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a blood test that can be helpful in detecting prostate cancer. There is some controversy, however, about the value of the PSA test and whether is should be done routinely for men over a certain age. Ask your health care provider whether he or she recommends a PSA in your specific situation.

 

All men

• Depression: Your emotional health is as important as your physical health. If you have felt “down,” sad or hopeless over the past two weeks or have felt little interest or pleasure in doing things, you may be depressed. Talk to your doctor about being screened for depression.

• HIV: Have a test to screen for HIV infection if you:

• Have had unprotected sex with multiple partners.
• Have used or now use injection drugs.
• Exchange sex for money or drugs or have sex partners who do.
• Have past or present sex partners who are HIV-infected, bisexual or use injection drugs.
• Are being treated for sexually transmitted diseases.
• Had a blood transfusion between 1978 and 1985.  

Screening Checklist For Women

 
What Needs to be Checked and How Often?

Health experts from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force have made recommendations, based on scientific evidence, about testing for the conditions below.
The information below reflects standard health screening guidelines only. Discuss your risk factors for certain diagnoses with your physician.

Women 18-39 years old

Every Year:
• Dental exam

Every 1-3 Years:
• Cervical Cancer: Have a Pap smear every one to three years if you:
        • Have ever been sexually active.
        • Are between the ages of 21 and 65.

• Chlamydia and other sexually transmitted infections: Test for chlamydia if you are 25 or younger and sexually active. If you are older, talk to your doctor about being tested. Also ask whether you should be tested for other sexually transmitted diseases.

Every 2-3 Years:
• Blood pressure, height/weight measurements and brief physical
• Eye exam if you have visual problems, or at least one exam from ages 20 to 29 and at least two exams from ages 30 to 39.
• Have your body mass index (BMI) calculated to screen for obesity. (BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight.) You also can find your own BMI with the BMI calculator from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute at nhlbisupport.com/bmi.
• Skin health: Monthly mole self-exam. Exam by a doctor every three years, starting at age 20.

Every 5 Years:
• Cholesterol check
• Thyroid test

Women 40-65 years old

Every Year:
• Physical exam for cancer (skin, thyroid, lymph nodes and rectum)
• Dental exam
• Cervical cancer: Have a Pap smear every 1 to 3 years if you:
        • Have ever been sexually active.
        • Are between the ages of 21 and 65.
• Breast cancer: Have a mammogram every one to two years starting at age 40.
• Cholesterol: Have your cholesterol checked regularly starting at age 45. If you are younger than 45, talk to your doctor about whether to have your cholesterol checked if:
        • You have diabetes.
        • You have high blood pressure.
        • Heart disease runs in your family.
        • You smoke.
• Colorectal cancer: Have a test for colorectal cancer starting at age 50. Your doctor can help you decide which test is right for you.
If you have a family history of colorectal cancer, you may need to be screened earlier.

Every 1-2 Years:
• Height/weight measurements
• Blood pressure: Have your blood pressure checked at least every two years. High blood pressure is 140/90 or higher.
• Stool sample check for blood
• Vision and glaucoma check

Every 1-3 Years:
• Cervical cancer: Have a Pap smear every one to three years if you:
        • Have ever been sexually active.
        • Are between the ages of 21 and 65.

Every 3-5 Years:
• Cholesterol check
• Diabetes: Test for diabetes if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
• Sigmoidoscopy after age 50 for colon cancer every five years (if not having a colonoscopy)
• Thyroid test: every five years
 

Women over 65 years old

Every Year:
• Full checkup, including weight and height
• Blood pressure check
• Physical exam for cancers (skin, thyroid, lymph nodes and rectum)
• Dental exam
• Breast cancer: Have a mammogram every one to two years.
• Cholesterol: Have your cholesterol checked.
• Colorectal cancer: Have a test for colorectal cancer. Your doctor can help you decide which test is right for you. 

Every 1-3 Years:
• Thyroid hormone check
• Blood count
• Cholesterol check
• Blood sugar check
• Hearing check
• Vision and glaucoma check
• Lab tests or urine sample

Every 3-5 Years:
• Sigmoidoscopy for colon cancer every five years (if not having a colonoscopy)

At least once:
• Osteoporosis (thinning of the bones): Have a bone density test beginning at age 65 to screen for osteoporosis. If you are between the ages of 60 and 64 and weigh 154 pounds or less, talk to your doctor about being tested.

 

Immunizations

As an adult, you should have the following shots:

• Influenza every year
• Tetanus booster at least every 10 years for lockjaw
• Pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine at age 65 

 

All Women

• Depression: Your emotional health is as important as your physical health. If you have felt “down,” sad or hopeless over the past two weeks or have felt little interest or pleasure in doing things, you may be depressed. Talk to your doctor about being screened for depression.

• HIV: Have a test to screen for HIV infection if you:

        • Have had unprotected sex with multiple partners.
        • Are pregnant.
        • Have used or now use injection drugs.
        • Exchange sex for money or drugs or have sex partners who do.
        • Have past or present sex partners who are HIV-infected, are bisexual or use injection drugs
        • Are being treated for sexually transmitted diseases.
        • Had a blood transfusion between 1978 and 1985. 

 

Helpful Web sites

Health
nih.gov
webmd.com

Heart
americanheart.com

Diabetes
diabetes.org

Cancer
cancer.org

Women’s health
4women.gov

Men’s health
menshealthnework.org

Senior’s health
healthinaging.org