When Joey Poku was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer, robotic-assisted surgery at William Osler Health System (Osler) gave him access to advanced treatment—and a path forward—close to home and the people he loves.

Upon learning he had cancer, Joey’s first thoughts were about his family.

“I was shocked,” Joey recalls. “Leaving my family— dying—that was my main concern.”

Joey’s diagnosis followed routine bloodwork that showed rising levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a marker commonly used to help detect prostate cancer. When they climbed significantly, further testing and a biopsy confirmed prostate cancer with aggressive features that required treatment.

Suddenly, he was faced with decisions he never expected to make. But Joey found reassurance in knowing he could receive the advanced care he needed close to home, at Osler.

After discussing his treatment options with Dr. Aziz Khambati, a surgeon at Osler and site chief of urology for Brampton Civic Hospital, Joey chose robotic-assisted surgery using the da Vinci surgical system.

“I just put my trust in Dr. Khambati,” Joey says. “He was really good at making me feel comfortable. So I knew it was going to be okay.”

Precision when it matters most

The prostate is located deep within the pelvis, making surgery to remove prostate cancer a delicate procedure.

“The da Vinci robotic system allows us to get into those tight spaces where the prostate tends to sit,” explains Dr. Khambati. “It allows us to minimize blood loss at the time of surgery and make more precise cuts that help us preserve patient continence and sexual function, while still addressing the cancer needs of the operation.”

The technology doesn’t replace the surgeon—it extends their capabilities. Dr. Khambati remains in complete control, using the system’s magnified view and highly precise instruments to perform the procedure through small incisions.

For patients, robotic-assisted surgery can mean less blood loss, smaller incisions, shorter hospital stays, and a faster return to everyday activities.

Joey saw the difference for himself.

“When I saw the cuts, I was amazed,” he says. “It was just a little incision here and there.”

He was home the next day. His recovery went well, and his surgical outcomes have been positive.

Bringing advanced care closer to home

Joey’s experience is part of a broader evolution in surgical care at Osler.

Robotic-assisted surgery is also being used by surgical teams in areas including thoracic surgery and gynecology, expanding access to minimally invasive approaches for more patients across the communities Osler serves.

For Dr. Khambati, that access matters just as much as the technology itself.

“Getting a cancer diagnosis is very stressful,” he says. “Having to travel farther for treatment can add financial and emotional strain for patients and their families. Being able to offer those same services closer to home really does alleviate a lot of those concerns.”

Today, Joey is retired and focused on the things that matter most: walking, eating well, spending time with his family, and enjoying life.

His experience has also given him a deeper appreciation for the care available in his own community—and for the people behind it.

“The care that I received at Osler was amazing,” Joey says. “They took care of me— really took care of me and I appreciated being able to receive this treatment close to home.”

For Dr. Khambati, that is what innovation is ultimately about: what becomes possible when expertise, innovation and investment come together to give patients more options— and a path forward.

“The future of robotics at Osler, in my mind, means better surgical outcomes for patients.”