As an ENT surgeon, I have seen firsthand how transformative robotic surgery has become for patients with oropharyngeal cancers, or cancers of the throat. These tumours are notoriously difficult to see and reach with traditional instruments. Before we had robotics, our approach had to be extremely aggressive: we had to split the jaw and cut the tongue muscle of our patients to access the tumour. Our patients unfortunately faced permanent numbness and disfiguration, difficulty swallowing, the need to relearn how to eat and speak, and long hospital stays.
Robotics has changed everything. Now, with the da Vinci donors generously funded, we approach the cancer entirely through the mouth, using a high-definition camera to visualize and precisely remove the tumour. Instead of sending patients to Vancouver—a process many found exhausting, disappointing, and isolating—they can now receive this advanced care close to home. Most of our patients go home after just three days, and their recovery is dramatically better. They no longer need tracheostomies to breathe or feeding tubes to eat. As a surgeon, it makes me proud to see my patients doing so well after surgery.
When I was recruited a couple of years ago, the plan to bring a robot here was a major reason I came. Now that it’s in place, we are only beginning to see what is possible. With continued donor support, we can keep advancing care, keep innovating, and keep giving our patients the outcomes they deserve. Thank you for making a difference.
