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Ron, a 73-year-old retiree, was referred to Dr. Ryan Groll, Chief of Urology, by his family doctor after experiencing frequent urination and a concerning rise in the level of Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) in his blood.
Tests confirmed that Ron had early-stage prostate cancer. “It came as a complete shock to me,” he says. “I’ve taken good care of myself and haven’t had many health issues.”
Partnership is vital
Dr. Groll spoke with Ron about his options and set up a conversation with a radiation oncologist to help Ron make an informed decision.
Ron was a candidate for two types of surgical removal of his prostate – an open radical prostatectomy or a minimally invasive surgical procedure where a surgeon uses a robotic system to operate through tiny incisions.
“There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to addressing cancer. Prostate cancer, in particular, has different treatment options each with variable impact. So we have to focus on the individual and their unique circumstances, priorities and preferences,” says Dr. Groll. “Ron and I worked closely to weigh different options and assess risks. While the decision about treatment was ultimately up to him, I was there to help guide him.”
In addition to speaking with Dr. Groll, Ron connected with friends and family members who had personally experienced prostate cancer. And he talked everything over with his wife, Deb.
In the end, Ron’s decision was clear: “I wanted it out. And I didn’t want to wait. I also felt that robotic-assisted surgery was the best option for me, mainly because it was less invasive with the possibility of a faster recovery.”
Robotic-assisted surgery at Michael Garron Hospital
Our hospital began offering robotic-assisted surgery in 2011, when we became the first community hospital in Canada to acquire a da Vinci Surgical System.
In a robotic-assisted procedure, the surgeon sits at a console to control the robot’s instruments. The robot translates the surgeon’s hand movements in real time to open, close, turn and twist its instruments with a greater range of motion than the human hand. This allows for smaller incisions and fewer stitches, and many patients report shorter recovery times compared to traditional surgeries.
Two months after his diagnosis, Ron was wheeled into in the surgical suite. “I saw Dr. Groll standing next to this thing that kind of looks like R2-D2 disguised as an octopus,” he laughs. “I was nervous, of course. But I trusted Dr. Groll.”
The next thing Ron knew, he was waking up in the recovery room. He spent one night in the hospital before heading home with Deb on Valentine’s Day. “My post-op care was golden,” Ron says. “My nurses were very kind and they treated me like royalty.”
In the days and weeks that followed, Ron didn’t experience much pain. “My recovery had inconveniences and discomfort, but no real pain,” he says.
Since then, Ron has seen Dr. Groll for several follow-up appointments to monitor his recovery and his PSA levels. “I jokingly refer to him as my sherpa,” Ron says. “We climbed a mountain together.”
Becoming an advocate
Ron has extended his vigilance beyond his own health. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, one in eight Canadian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. But the risks are almost double for Black men of African or Caribbean ancestry.
“I feel it’s my obligation to pay it forward by raising awareness about this disease,” Ron says. “In the Black community, we don’t speak openly about health issues. But still we all need to know our PSA levels and we need to learn about risk factors.”
“And if we get that dreaded diagnosis, we need to understand all our options. That’s where I’m grateful to Dr. Groll and the whole team at Michael Garron Hospital, and why I’m sharing my story.”
Generous donors help fund leading technologies, like the da Vinci Surgical System, so that our hospital can bring patients gold-standard care. To support the health and well-being of our community, please give at mghf.ca/donate.
