After rising PSA levels and a prostate cancer diagnosis, Al underwent surgery at HSC. With the da Vinci Xi surgical robot, funded by donors, his recovery was faster and his outcome life-changing.
Al Simoens is back to his usual activities, including golf and working out at the gym: “I was feeling great and was excited to start lifting and moving my body again.”
When Al’s PSA levels began to rise, he knew something wasn’t right. With his father having passed away from prostate cancer, Al understood the seriousness of the situation. A biopsy confirmed early-stage prostate cancer, and his care team at HSC recommended surgery.
“I was 67 and otherwise in great health,” says Al. “But I had seen what happened to my dad and knew what could lie ahead for me. With very little hesitation, I opted for surgery.”
While Al was preparing for traditional open surgery, a new technology arrived at HSC: the da Vinci Xi surgical robot, funded by donors through the Operation Excellence campaign. In November 2024, he became one of the first urology patients in Manitoba to receive robotic surgery.
“The machine is impressive,” Al recalls. “It has four arms that insert instruments through very small incisions. The surgeon sits at a console and controls the arms with a joystick, like a video game. With open surgery, I would have needed a big incision, which would have meant a longer, more painful recovery and a higher risk of infection.”
Al’s procedure lasted about four and a half hours. He stayed in hospital for two nights, though many robotic surgery patients go home after just one. What surprised him most was how little pain he experienced. “The worst pain was actually in my collarbone, and even that wasn’t too bad. Regular Tylenol easily took care of it.”
Within three months, Al had fully regained bladder control. “A lot of men experience long-term incontinence after prostate surgery,” he explains. “Fortunately, the incidence is lower with robotic surgery. I was fully continent—and confident—within three months.”
Nearly a year later, Al is back to his full workout routine, spending time with family, and enjoying his “retirement job” as a school bus driver. “I’m feeling great, and I’m feeling grateful,” he says. “I appreciate the brilliance of Drs. Nayak and Saranchuk and all of the health care personnel who took care of me. And I’m grateful for the donors who made robotic surgery possible here in Manitoba.”
Thanks to generous gifts to the HSC Foundation’s Operation Excellence campaign, Manitobans like Al have access to life-changing surgical technology. Your support helps HSC’s outstanding professionals deliver tomorrow’s health care, today.
You too can make an impact by donating here, or by calling the HSC Foundation office at 204-515-5612 or 1-800-679-8493 (toll-free).
