For the past few years, Roger has struggled to urinate.

“I’ve already recommended HoLEP at Humber River Health to a number of friends,” says Roger. “I’m grateful for my wonderful experience.”

“I started having trouble initiating the flow and then the urine would come out slowly,” says Roger. “My family doctor at the time put me on medication but after a year, I realized it wasn’t improving my symptoms.”

When the frequency of his long trips to the bathroom increased – forcing Roger to get up four times a night – he knew something had to change.

“I had a new family doctor by then, and he asked if I had ever been referred to a Urologist,” says Roger. “He referred me to Dr. Jack Barkin at Humber River Health.”

Dr. Barkin ordered a cystoscopy, a procedure that allows doctors to look inside the bladder and urethra. This confirmed that Roger’s prostate had grown, creating a very narrow space for urine flow.

Roger wasn’t alone – enlarged prostates effect nearly half of 50 year old men and 80% of 80 year old men.

Dr. Barkin walked Roger through some of his current options, but also told him about a new procedure called HoLEP, Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate, that was coming soon to Humber, a less invasive solution for men with very large benign prostates that previously would have required an open operation.

Humber River Health became the first hospital in the Greater Toronto Area offering this life-changing, minimally invasive procedure, under the leadership of Dr. Olivier Heimrath, Dr. Jack Barkin, and Dr. Luke Fazio.

Roger quickly agreed to be one of the first HoLEP patients at Humber River Health, which in November, became the first hospital in the Greater Toronto Area offering this life-changing, minimally invasive procedure, under the leadership of Dr. Olivier Heimrath, Dr. Jack Barkin, and Dr. Luke Fazio.

“Dr. Barkin knew what he was doing so I wasn’t nervous,” says Roger. “He was very open to answering all of my questions before and after my operation. Everything went smoothly and I went home with friends the same day as my procedure. The whole team was very attentive.”

Roger’s relief was immediate. Following his treatment at Humber, his urine was flowing well and he was surprised that he experienced no pain throughout the healing process.

“I was prescribed Tylenol, but ended up experiencing absolutely no pain at all,” says Roger. “The only thing that was uncomfortable was the catheter I wore for a couple of days.”

The key to making HoLEP a non-invasive procedure was the addition of a piece of equipment called the Morcellator – a machine used to break up and remove pieces of the prostate. Our donors make innovative programs like HoLEP possible, and the difference is substantial for patients like Roger.

“With HoLEP, we can shorten hospital stays and perform the whole procedure without making an open cut, with much less chance of bleeding, less pain, and a faster full recovery,” says Dr. Barkin.

“With HoLEP, for patients with very large benign prostates, where the standard non-invasive route would not work, we can shorten hospital stays and perform the whole procedure without making an open cut, with much less chance of bleeding, less pain, and a faster full recovery,” says Dr. Barkin. “It is much better for the patient and the health care system.”

“I’ve already recommended HoLEP at Humber River Health to a number of friends,” says Roger. “I’m grateful for my wonderful experience.”

Watch a CTV interview about Roger and his experience with HoLEP at Humber River Health here.