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Returning to Routine

In November 2024, Al Simoens was one of the first urology patients at HSC to be treated with the da Vinci Xi surgical robot, funded by the HSC Foundation’s Operation Excellence campaign.

“I’ve always been aware of prostate issues. Sadly, my dad passed away from prostate cancer when he was 74. When my PSA levels spiked outside of the normal range, and a biopsy confirmed that I had early-stage prostate cancer, I knew that I would need to undergo a radical prostatectomy–surgery to remove the entire prostate gland and some lymph nodes around it.

I’m so glad that robot-assisted surgery was available!

My surgery lasted four and a half hours. I stayed in the hospital for two nights. Many robotic surgery patients only need to stay for one night. (Had I received open surgery, I might have had to stay for four or five nights!)

What was truly remarkable to me was how little pain I had where the incisions were. I went back to my routine at the gym after six weeks with no stress and no pain. No stress, because I was 100% cancer-free. No pain, because recovery from robotic surgery is a much easier journey than recovery from conventional open surgery.

It’s now been almost a year since the surgery. I’m going all out at the gym, spending time with my family, and enjoying my ‘retirement job’ as a school bus driver. I’m feeling great; and I’m feeling grateful. I appreciate the brilliance of Drs. Jay Nayak and Jeff Saranchuk and all of the other HSC personnel who took care of me. And I am grateful for the donors to the HSC Foundation’s Operation Excellence campaign who made robotic surgery possible in Manitoba.”

To support the HSC Foundation so that all Manitobans can get the best care possible, call 204-515-5612 or (toll-free) 1-800-679-8493.