Cancer survivor Ken Hamilton is an advocate for annual physicals. He's convinced he's alive today in large part because of his regular checkup. And, he uses his own experience as a way to let others know how important an annual physical can be – even if you're the picture of health.

An active father of two grown children and grandfather of four, prostate cancer was the furthest thing from Ken's mind.

Despite the fact that he felt fine, when it came time for his annual checkup, he didn't hesitate to keep his appointment. And that's where Ken's good fortune started. It was during that routine physical exam that his family physician, Dr. Frank Wade, noticed that Ken's PSA (prostate specific antigen) levels were unusually high. Dr. Wade immediately referred Ken to urologist Dr. Patrick Showalter and with further testing: Dr. Showalter was able to confirm a diagnosis of prostate cancer.

"My initial reaction was shock," said Ken. "Physically I felt fine and I just couldn't believe that it was happening to me."

Fortunately for Ken, the physical revealed the cancer well before any symptoms and, according to his doctor, early detection likely saved his life.

"My doctor said by the time you've got symptoms, really, there's not much they can do for you. I really owe my life to early detection and great medical care," said Ken.

Because the cancer was detected at such an early stage, before it had spread, his medical team at Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro was able to utilize an advanced surgical procedure called da Vinci®. According to Ken, the da Vinci procedure, that uses computerized robotics, made his surgery "almost a non-event."

"The incisions were very, very small and there was very little pain," he said. "Two days after surgery I was able to go home and every day after that I felt better and better. The hospital and the nurses were just awesome."

For Ken and his wife Patricia, their experience has been a valuable lesson in the importance of annual checkups and early detection. "I tell everyone I know how important it is to get the checkup," he says. "If not for the checkup things might have turned out very differently. I'm still active, involved, swimming, watching the grandkids on occasion, and enjoying life thanks to a simple, routine physical."