Every June, Men’s Health Month serves as an important reminder for men to prioritize their health and well-being. The month aims to encourage men to do what they should be doing all year — implementing a healthy lifestyle that prioritizes preventative care, including annual wellness exams, routine screenings, eating a nutritious diet and getting daily physical activity.

Dr. Jeff Womble, General Surgeon

A survey by the Cleveland Clinic showed that men are generally less proactive about their health than women are. In the survey, 40 percent of men said they visit the doctor only after something serious occurs and many others said they rarely schedule regular check-ups. According to Dr. Jeff Womble, Chief of Surgery at Memorial Regional Health, men in the Moffat County community are no different than those across the country.

“Men tend to ignore medical issues until they are quite serious or interfere with the things they want to do,” he said. “It is certainly better to deal with things when they are less serious and can be managed with less intervention.”

Importance of Preventative Care

The earlier a provider can detect a health issue, the better. Treatments for many health conditions are more effective the sooner they begin. That’s why it’s important for men to visit with their trusted provider every year through an annual exam— even when they’re healthy. Waiting until they’re symptomatic could mean it’s too late.

The average life expectancy for men in the U.S. is, on average, 5 years less than women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Leading causes of death in males across the country include heart disease, unintentional injuries, chronic lower respiratory disease, stroke and cancer. One in every two men is diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lifetime.

Though most of these issues affect all genders, several issues are more prevalent in men, such as prostate cancer and benign prostate enlargement, Harvard Health reports. Heart disease is the leading cause of death among men, according to the CDC, and colon cancer typically affects men more often than women. According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, 28,520 men are anticipated to die of colorectal cancer in 2021, as opposed to 24,460 women.

Getting Ahead of Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is one of the most preventable cancers with regular screenings — specifically, through colonoscopies. Colonoscopies detect changes or abnormalities in the large intestine (the colon) and rectum.

The American Cancer Society recommends the average individual begin screenings for colon cancer at age 45 and generally continue through age 75. Colonoscopies should be performed every 10 years.

Those who have a personal or family history of colon cancer should begin screenings sooner and more frequently, as should those with inflammatory bowel disease or those who have had polyps removed during a colonoscopy before. A colon polyp is a small clump of cells that forms on the lining of the colon; they are typically harmless, but over time, can develop into cancer.

Dr. Womble noted many local patients are reluctant to have this procedure – or any screening for that matter — because they have no family history of cancer and/or are not presenting any symptoms. The problem is that pre-cancerous colon polyps and colon cancer are typically asymptomatic until they are very advanced. It’s important to note anybody can develop this type of cancer, regardless of family history.

“While colonoscopy is inconvenient, it is much better than having a colostomy,” Dr. Womble said. “It has been estimated that if we could get everyone to be screened the way we recommend, we could prevent over 90% of all colon cancers.”

Preventing colon cancer, for example, by removing a polyp through a colonoscopy is much more manageable than entirely removing a section of the colon through a colostomy procedure. Chemotherapy might also be necessary once cancer has been detected.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many elective procedures were put on hold and there was a substantial decline in cancer screenings. If you or a loved one has delayed preventative healthcare in the past year, now is the best time to schedule your appointments and screenings to ensure you’re on the right track for a long, healthy life.

Family Practice/Primary Care at MRH

Our providers are here to ensure you and your loved ones are in good health and up to date on any screenings you may need throughout life. If you need to schedule your annual exam or your first check-up with a primary care provider at MRH, we assist patients in Craig and Steamboat.

Learn more about services we provide here or call one of the numbers below to schedule an appointment. Appointments are available Monday through Friday.

• Craig Medical Clinic:
970-826-2400
• Craig Specialty Clinic (Dr. Kipe):
970-824-3252
• Steamboat Signature Specialty Clinic:
970-826-8440

General Surgery at MRH

MRH surgeons Dr. Jeff Womble and Dr. Dana Miller offer various elective or urgent surgeries, including colonoscopies for men and women. We walk our patients through all aspects of the surgery to ensure they fully understand what to expect and what they should plan for before, during and after the procedure.

For more information on general surgery services at MRH, learn more here. To schedule an appointment, please call 970-826-2420.