Alex Posner said prostate issues and his concerns about a family history of prostate cancer led him to get checked out, he later decided to undergo aquablation therapy at AdventHealth Heart of Florida. (photo courtesy: Alex Posner)
DAVENPORT, Fla., — Health experts say as men get older, a high majority of them will deal with what’s known as Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), commonly known as an enlarged prostate, the most common prostate problem among men. That was the case for Alex Posner, 77, of Davenport, who said prostate issues and his concerns about a family history of prostate cancer led him to get checked out.
“Praise the Lord it wasn’t cancerous and that had concerned me because my dad had four brothers, one was killed in World War II, but the other three all died of prostate cancer, so I’ve always been concerned about that,” Posner said.
June is Men’s Health Month, where men are encouraged to be proactive about their health and get screened for common issues impacting men, like prostate issues.
With BPH, some men may experience sleep disruptions due to the need to use the bathroom frequently at night. They may also experience other urinary problems, including the inability to empty your bladder fully. Without timely treatment, BPH can lead to severe health issues such as permanent bladder or kidney damage, bladder stones and incontinence.
Posner was referred to Dr. Faiyaaz Jhaveri, a urologist with AdventHealth Heart of Florida, last summer and earlier this year, the decision was made for him to undergo aquablation therapy. This minimally invasive robotic approach uses heat-free technology to remove a precise amount of tissue using room temperature water, with no physical incision required. It also allows surgeons to create a personalized treatment plan that precisely targets which prostate tissue to remove and which to preserve. With this tailored approach, the system accurately removes problematic tissue while safeguarding critical anatomy.
Posner said the surgery was successful and he was very grateful for all the care he received from his entrance to exit at AdventHealth Heart of Florida.
“I wish I could mention every person’s name who took care of me while I was there. From the security guard at the front desk to every nurse, every staff member, every technician, the anesthesiologist, everyone was great. I have never experienced such wonderful care and compassion,” Posner said. I would like to especially commend three people who made my stay such a good experience: Cierra in the pre-op area and one of my floor nurses, Paulo. They weren’t the only ones who were so wonderful, but they just went over the top in patient care for me. There was also a female nurse, whose name I didn’t get in the operating room. When they put the oxygen mask on my face in surgery, she could tell that I was pretty scared, because as I’m sure people can understand, men don’t like to have that kind of surgery, and she could tell I was frightened, and she held my hand and offered me such great comfort.”
Posner said he’s recovered well and is staying active. He and his wife, Linda are very active in their church, Northridge Church in Haines City, where he is a worship leader and sings and plays the guitar. He and his wife are also avid golfers and try to hit the links three to four times a week.
“There was a legendary baseball pitcher, Satchel Paige, who said always keep moving and don’t look back, something might be gaining on you. So, I just try to keep moving and just use the time the Lord has given me,” Posner said.
Posner also had a message he wanted to share with the team members at AdventHealth Heart of Florida.
“One of the lessons I learned leaving the hospital or when I was in the hospital was how to just focus on being nicer and kinder to people. I mean, I’m not always the nicest guy in the world and I learned a lot from those people, and I’d like them to know that,” Posner said.
If you would like to learn more about Aquablation and determine if you are a candidate, you can learn more and contact one of AdventHealth Heart of Florida’s urology specialists at Urological Care | AdventHealth Heart of Florida| Formerly Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center