When my Urologist Dr. Michael Metcalfe told me I had prostate cancer, my first thought was my family—my wife Lisa, and our grown children, Andrew and Jane. We have been married for 44 years, but nothing prepares you to hear those dreaded words. Nothing.
Then came the practical questions: How long would I be off work? Would I be in the hospital for weeks? I’ve been an orthodontist for over 40 years—I have patients that rely on me every day. I also wondered about my recovery, would I still be able to exercise, help around the house, do the yard work? Would I need to give up my passion for biking, and would I have to cancel our long-awaited trip to Italy?
When I sat down with Dr. Metcalfe to talk about treatment and the way forward, he explained my options—including a new one. My cancer could be treated using robotic-assisted surgery at Royal Jubilee Hospital, a brand new alternative for us on Vancouver Island. He told me this technology could shorten my recovery dramatically, reduce the risk of complications, and allow for far greater surgical precision. Of great importance too, I have a rare blood clotting disorder that is extremely challenging to manage when I need surgery. With a history of stroke and because I am on blood thinning medication, the risk of open surgery would have been too high for me, and I wouldn’t have been a candidate for non-robotic surgery. This new technology was a gift in every sense.
Dr. Metcalfe’s confidence, paired with the fact that such advanced technology was available right here in Victoria, gave me complete peace of mind when my surgery day arrived this past July. His confidence gave me confidence. I knew as a patient, I had access to the best technology available anywhere. With robotics, Dr. Metcalfe was able to safely operate on me, and allow me to resume my anticoagulation medication shortly after surgery. This means I didn’t need blood transfusions—and, more importantly, I wasn’t at a higher risk for a stroke.
Dr. Metcalfe was right about it all. I was back seeing my patients within ten days of my surgery. Two weeks later, I was back on my bike. In four weeks, I rode 90 kilometres. And in six weeks, I was cycling on our dream trip to Italy. I wasn’t superhuman, and my recovery wasn’t a miracle—it was the result of world-class technology and an exceptionally skilled surgical team. The da Vinci surgical system allowed Dr. Metcalfe to operate through tiny incisions with extraordinary precision, which meant minimal pain and a faster recovery for me.
Looking back, it is incredible how advanced technology and expert care changed the course of my life. I had no symptoms at all leading up to my prostate cancer diagnosis; a simple routine PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test revealed I had elevated levels. I often think about how far cancer treatment has come in my lifetime. I am 65 now (though I feel 40 at heart), and a prostate cancer diagnosis that once felt like a death sentence is now something you can conquer and recover so quickly from, at least in some cases like mine.
My recovery reminds me every day how fortunate we are to have this level of care right here on Vancouver Island. From the nurses and orderlies to the surgeons, every person treated me with compassion and respect. Dr. Metcalfe checked in regularly, personally calling and texting to see how I was doing. He is genuinely one of the kindest and most understated people I’ve ever met—and, yet, he quite simply has saved my life. I have always felt like his top priority.
I have to admit, when I was first diagnosed, friends encouraged me to seek other options in Vancouver, Toronto, or even the U.S. But there was no need. The technology, the expertise, the compassion—it’s all here, at Royal Jubilee and Victoria General hospitals.
It exists thanks to community support and donors who believe in advancing healthcare. We are truly fortunate to have such innovative technology and dedicated medical teams here in Victoria.
I leave this chapter of my story behind, taking with me only four dime-sized scars, and a deep respect for our hospitals, the caregivers within them, and the donors who surround them. Today, I am a patient ambassador—and a new donor myself—because I believe in bringing more robotics to our hospitals. It has saved my life, and it has changed my life
