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Article Category: Highlights

Your Men’s Health Playbook

Decade-by-decade strategies to keep you in the game

Published on June 26, 2024

Last updated 08:09 AM January 24, 2025

Group of men of different ages jogging.

Your late teens, 20s & 30s
Striving for top health performance
You may feel on top of your game—even unbeatable—In your 20s and 30s. You may be tempted to think, “Why even bother with a physical?” Yet this is training season for building up lifelong healthy habits.

Establish your care coach: In your late teens to early 20s, transition from your pediatrician and establish yourself with a primary care physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant by scheduling a physical.

“When young men show up for preventive care, we talk about the future,” said Dr. Dean Seehusen, chair of Family & Community Medicine at Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center in Augusta. “Then we talk about what that’s going to take habit-wise. What you can do in your 60s and 70s is based on what you’re doing in your 20s, 30s and 40s.”

Stay on top of your stats: The information from your annual exam can help you stay on track to live out your vision, measured in part by important health stats—like glucose and cholesterol levels, body mass index and blood pressure. Staying on top of your trending numbers can help prevent heart disease, stroke and diabetes down the road.

It’s also a good time to talk about your vaccine status, such as tetanus (needed every 10 years) and HPV. To protect yourself and your partner, it’s important to test for human papillomavirus. Also known as HPV, it’s the most common sexually transmitted infection and can cause several types of cancer for men and women, even though you likely won’t have symptoms. You may have already received this vaccine in your teens, but if you haven’t yet, it’s recommended through the age of 26.

Men may also consider self-screening for testicular cancer through self-exams during these earlier healthcare years, according to John Aaron III, a physician assistant who cares for patients at Wellstar Family Medicine in Alpharetta.

Look for weaknesses: Make your health team aware of your family medical history, from heart disease and stroke to cancer. This will help them create a personalized health plan for you. You may need screenings or tests for certain health conditions at an earlier age than the average population.

Find a Men’s Health care team near you, including the Wellstar KSU Health Center for Kennesaw State University for students.

 

What you can do in your 60s and 70s is based on what you’re doing in your 20s, 30s and 40s.

- Dr. Dean Seehusen

Chair of Family & Community Medicine at Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center in Augusta

Listen to CJ's Story

Your 40s: Adding new health plays
Starting in your 40s, it’s time to add some new healthcare plays—like getting screened for colorectal cancer and discussing whether prostate cancer screening is right for you.

Put colorectal cancer on the defense: In people under 50, colorectal cancer is now the number one cancer-related killer of men according to the American Cancer Society, and Black men are 20% more likely to get colorectal cancer. For men at average risk, talk to your primary care provider about colorectal cancer screening at 45—or earlier if you have a family history or colon cancer-related genetic syndromes.

“If you love yourself, then you need to get yourself checked out,” said CJ Stewart, former Chicago Cubs outfielder and Wellstar patient. “You can definitely take it from me—someone who was fearful of the process—that if I can do it, you can do it.”
 
Make smart prostate plays: Depending on personal factors, this may also be the time to start conversations with your doctor about your family history with prostate cancer, and whether screening with a simple prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test is right for you. Men at higher risk for prostate cancer may need to start their screening in their 40s. If you’re not at high risk, you can discuss whether screening is right for you in your 50s. According to the American Cancer Society, Black men have nearly twice the risk of dying from prostate cancer than white men. This is an important reason for Black men to proactively discuss screening for prostate cancer with their physician.

Regular screenings can help identify if you might have prostate cancer, and if it may cause harm if left untreated. Schedule an appointment with your primary care provider or urologist. Or if you’re at higher risk, contact the Wellstar Prostate Health Program for a personalized approach.

Discuss making smart health moves with a primary care provider near you.

Your 50s, 60s & 70s: Staying in the game
In your 50s and beyond, it’s important to maintain your relationship with your primary care health team, who can help you update your playbook so you can keep doing what you love in the long term.

Get defensive: It’s time to review your vaccine status, such as your tetanus, pneumonia and shingles shots.

Strengthen your heart: Ask if you need a heart screening (coronary artery calcium scoring) and discuss ways to lower your risk for heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S. for men, women and most racial and ethnic groups. There are easy, delicious meal options that follow American Heart Association nutrition guidelines for lowering your risk of heart disease and stroke.

Get ahead of cancer: If you didn’t talk to your doctor about prostate cancer screening in your 40s, now’s the time to consider if this is the right approach for you. And, men with a history of smoking should ask about lung cancer screenings. According to the American Cancer Society, Black men are about 15% more likely to develop lung cancer than white men. Low-dose CT scans help detect early-stage lung cancer before clinical signs or symptoms become evident. When identified early, lung cancer can be more easily treated and more frequently cured than later-stage cancers.

Staying mentally strong: Consider how you can stay mentally strong. Symptoms of dementia or late-onset Alzheimer’s—namely memory loss and poor judgment-making—may appear in your 60s. Nearly 1 in 9 people 65 and older have Alzheimer's disease in the U.S. If you or a man in your life show signs of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, your doctor may refer you to a neurologist for further assessment, to help manage the symptoms and slow down the progression of the disease.

Schedule an appointment with a Wellstar physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant to help you stay in the game.

What about other conditions men live with?
Read more about how teaming up with your doctor can help you manage erectile dysfunction and sex drive alongside other health conditions that are more common for men.


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Family Medicine - 2450 Old Milton Parkway Suite 201 John M Aaron III Dean Allen Seehusen
Cancer Care Digestive Care Mens Health
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Illustration of baseball with ribbon and bats. Text reads "Strike out cancer"

Highlights

Commemorate Cancer Survivors Day with Wellstar

Wellstar supports people with cancer throughout their journeys, from early screenings to diagnosis to treatment. But our encouragement and dedication to delivering world-class, compassionate care doesn’t end in remission.

Across our system, Wellstar honors the bravery and strength of survivors every day, rejoicing in each milestone. This National Cancer Survivors Day, June 1, 2025, we are proud to pay tribute to the people who have conquered cancer and offer hope to those still fighting. This year’s Cancer Survivors Day theme—Strike Out Cancer—exemplifies our commitment to being a steadfast source of encouragement for cancer survivors and fighters across Georgia.

“On Cancer Survivors Day, we reflect on our patients’ journeys and cherish victories over cancer. We also offer compassion and support for people currently fighting cancer, so they and their loved ones know they’re not alone,” said Wellstar Director of Oncology Professional Practices Melissa Higdon.

Several Wellstar facilities will host events—and you can be a part of the celebration!

 

Northwest Georgia Oncology Centers in Cartersville
June 5, 2025
10 AM to 3 PM
100 Market Place Blvd., Cartersville
Contact Mary Ellen Smither at [email protected] or (678) 858-1146.

Wellstar Cobb Medical Center
May 30, 2025
12 to 2 PM     
4040 Hospital West Drive, Austell
Behind the building in the garden and parking lot area
Contact Ashley Dapremont at [email protected] or (470) 732-4523.

Wellstar Douglas Medical Center
June 7, 2025
11 AM to 2 PM
8954 Hospital Drive, Douglasville
Surgical services lobby
Contact Diane Harris at [email protected] or (470) 644-5411.

Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center
June 7, 2025
11 AM to 2 PM
320 Kennestone Hospital Blvd., Marietta
First floor
Required RSVP, contact Nancy Page at [email protected] or (470) 793-7470.

Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center
June 1, 2025
2 to 4 PM
3000 Hospital Blvd., Roswell
Main lobby in hospital
Contact Sarah Bentley at [email protected] or (770) 751-2556.

Wellstar Paulding Medical Center
June 1, 2025
144 Bill Carruth Parkway, Hiram
Second floor auditorium
Contact Kellie Mitchell at [email protected] or (470) 644-8106.

Wellstar Spalding Medical Center
May 28, 2025
12 to 2 PM
Drive-thru event
608 South 8th St., Griffin
Women’s Center
Contact Sherry Connell at [email protected] or (470) 935-5526.

Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center
June 6, 2025
10 AM to 12 PM
111 Medical Drive, LaGrange
Enoch Callaway Cancer Center
Contact Stephanie Hand at [email protected].

Learn more about cancer care at Wellstar.

Keep reading
Healthcare leaders and providers breaking ground for the new cancer center being built at Wellstar Spalding Medical Center

Newsroom

Wellstar Expanding Cancer Care in Spalding County

At Wellstar Spalding Medical Center, we are your dedicated healthcare partner—putting you at the center of your cancer care and helping you navigate with clarity, hope and compassion. That’s why we’re proud to expand our medical oncology and infusion services to better serve our community.

The state-of-the-art cancer care facility promises greater access to advanced cancer treatments and improved convenience for patients in the Spalding community and surrounding areas.

Keep reading
Exterior of Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, NARC and Wellstar logos

Newsroom

Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center Renews Accreditation for Rectal Cancer Program

Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center has earned another three-year accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC), a quality program of the American College of Surgeons. This accreditation demonstrates our commitment to providing personalized, high-quality cancer care close to home for patients in Georgia.

To achieve voluntary NAPRC accreditation, a rectal center must demonstrate compliance with the NAPRC standards addressing program management, clinical services and quality improvement for patients. Centers are required to establish a multidisciplinary rectal cancer team that includes clinical representatives from surgery, pathology, radiology, radiation oncology and medical oncology.

At Wellstar, rectal cancer patients have a multidisciplinary team on their side through every step of treatment. Each patient works with a nurse navigator to schedule appointments with specialists. Patients meet with a medical oncologist, as well as a surgical oncologist or colorectal surgeon. Imaging and lab tests are reviewed by a multidisciplinary board of rectal cancer physicians, efficiently providing patients with input from several experts in cancer care. During the course of treatment, that multidisciplinary board will continue to follow the patient and discuss the best next steps, tailoring care to fit each patient’s individual needs.

Additionally, the program at Wellstar Kennestone met standards addressing the clinical services that the rectal cancer program provides, including Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA testing), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computerized Tomography (CT) imaging for cancer staging, which allow patients to start treatment within a defined timeframe. Rectal cancer programs accredited by the NAPRC undergo a site visit every three years and are also accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer.  

“Our patients are surrounded by a team of experienced rectal cancer experts who provide the highest level of personalized care,” said Wellstar Surgical Oncologist Dr. Sahir Shroff, who serves as the rectal cancer program chair.  “We are proud to be the first medical center in metro Atlanta to receive this important accreditation. Our pioneering efforts to adhere to the most rigorous standards and combine the latest technologies and techniques help us achieve excellence in rectal cancer care for our patients.”

Accreditation by the NAPRC is granted only to those programs that are committed to providing the best possible care to patients with rectal cancer. The NAPRC provides the structure and resources to develop and operate a high-quality rectal center. Accredited programs follow a model for organizing and managing a rectal center to ensure multidisciplinary, integrated, comprehensive rectal cancer services. Wellstar Kennestone earned its first accreditation in 2022.

Keep reading
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