Manchester Mayor Steve Collins recently shared his experience with preventive health screening, emphasizing the importance of not delaying such procedures. Collins said he felt healthy and had no symptoms but had postponed a colonoscopy for years.
“I probably should have gotten one ten or twelve years before I did,” Collins stated.
When he eventually underwent the screening, doctors discovered a mass in his colon. “When they told me I had a mass in my colon, my first reaction was, ‘Did I hear that right?’” he recalled. “It’s a rude awakening, especially when you feel great and aren’t having any symptoms.”
The mass turned out to be non-cancerous, but the experience underscored for Collins how critical preventive screenings can be. “That decision could have changed my life in a heartbeat,” he said.
Collins praised the care he received at AdventHealth Manchester. “I couldn’t have asked for better care,” he said. “They were caring and compassionate. I felt like I was being treated by family and friends, and that made all the difference.” He added that having access to advanced care locally gave him confidence: “It’s great to have a facility like this in your hometown.”
Now, Collins encourages others not to delay checkups or screenings. “Whether it’s a colonoscopy, a mammogram, or a PSA test, don’t put it off,” he said. “Preventive checkups can truly change your life.”
AdventHealth Manchester offers support for those needing primary care or preventive screenings.
AdventHealth Orlando is part of the larger AdventHealth system and has been serving patients since 1908 in Orlando, Florida. The hospital operates as both a pediatric and training hospital under its current president Terry Shaw.
