Prostate health is a key factor in determining a man’s overall wellbeing. It’s a common occurrence for doctors to check the prostate for irregular growth during a routine checkup. In its natural, healthy state the prostate is about the size of a walnut. If it grows much beyond that mark, doctors could have reason to suspect the presence of prostate cancer, which commonly affects older American men.

From the age of 50 – and perhaps even earlier – men are encouraged to undergo regular rectal exams in order to ensure that prostate cancer is caught in its early stages. Once diagnosed, this type of cancer can be treated through surgical techniques and radiation therapy. Because many men never develop symptoms, prostate cancer often goes untreated and leads to premature death.