Move over ladies. “Movember” is here — the time of year when men grow mustaches to raise awareness for men’s health. Here’s a look at the screenings and vaccines every guy should get.
Kick colorectal cancer to the curb. Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. That’s because regular screenings help detect precancerous polyps. Screenings also help detect early stages of colorectal cancer when treatment is most effective, and cost of treatment is lower.
Consider the following two screenings which help detect colorectal cancer:
- Colonoscopy — Experts recommend adults get a colonoscopy once every 10 years, beginning at age 45. During a colonoscopy, the doctor can remove precancerous polyps.
- Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) — Patients can take this test in the privacy of their own home once a year. It uses chemicals or antibodies to check for blood in the stool. CRC testing programs are a great example of high-impact prevention at scale. BioIQ facilitated screening for over 250,000 individuals last year alone.
By the numbers
71,000 men are diagnosed with colorectal cancer every year
Keep diabetes at a distance. A diabetes screening is simply a blood test. It measures your glucose levels and detects if diabetes is on the horizon or has already set in. Talk to your primary care physician about how often you should be screened. Your risk increases if you are overweight, have high blood pressure or have a family history. You can help prevent diabetes by maintaining a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet and exercising for 30 minutes, five days a week.
By the numbers
11.3 million men are diagnosed with diabetes and 4 million are undiagnosed. 44.5 million men have prediabetes, but only nine percent of them are aware of it.
Punch out prostate cancer. Healthcare providers begin the prostate cancer screening process with a blood test. This blood test measures levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). The higher the PSA level, the more likely you have prostate cancer or another prostate problem. Experts recommend screenings for men ages 55 to 69 who are at average or increased risk. Your chances of getting prostate cancer are higher if you’re older, African-American or have a family history.
By the numbers
In 2015, over 180,000 new cases of prostate cancer were reported causing close to 29,000 deaths.
Give prevention your best shot. Did you know immunizations are one of the most cost-effective ways to prevent disease in the U.S? Immunizations result in fewer days out of work, higher productivity and lower healthcare costs.
BioIQ’s comprehensive immunization solution includes a high-quality, national network of pharmacists and sophisticated tools for coordinating and delivering the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommended vaccinations to help keep people healthy — at convenient Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacy locations.
- Influenza
- Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis
- Shingles
- Pneumococcal
- Meningococcal
- Measles, mumps, rubella
- Human papillomavirus
- Chickenpox
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Haemophilus influenza type b
By the numbers
24.5 million cases of flu are reported annually.
Get a move on it, men. Movember is the perfect time to get caught up on your screenings and immunizations.