Minimally Invasive, Major Relief: One Patient’s Experience with New Prostate Procedure

For 65-year-old Dale Wilkinson of Greenwood, Missouri, prostate issues run in the family. Both his late father and grandfather were diagnosed with prostate cancer, and his brother was recently diagnosed as well. Given his family history, Dale has always been proactive about his prostate health. He kept his health in check for years with regular visits to his urologist, William T. Wilson, MD, of Advanced Urologic Associates. But over time, certain symptoms became difficult to ignore. 

“It got to the point where I was running to the bathroom all the time,” Dale says. “My family jokes that it’s the old-man disease, but it’s inconvenient, especially given the work I do.”

Dale works in equipment rental and often spends his days on the road driving between job sites and visiting customers. “I’d stop for lunch, and I couldn’t make it through a meal without needing to find a bathroom,” Dale says. “That kind of thing starts to wear on you.” 

His overactive bladder wasn’t the only concern. A few years ago, Dr. Wilson and his team diagnosed Dale with a markedly enlarged prostate. Over time, they monitored his prostate and tested for cancer. After a biopsy, Dale got some good news: he did not have prostate cancer. 

“The growth was not cancerous, but my prostate was seven times larger than average,” Dale says. “That’s when Dr. Wilson told me, ‘We knew this was coming, and now we need to do something about it.’”  

Dale is a diabetic and had concerns about traditional prostate surgery and his body’s ability to recover quickly. Turns out, Dr. Wilson had something else in mind.

“He told me about Aquablation® therapy and how I would be a great candidate for it,” Dale says. “After hearing him talk about the procedure and how it works, I was sold.” 

In early 2025, Advanced Urologic Associates installed the HYDROS™ Robotic System for Aquablation Therapy, a state-of-the-art system for delivering personalized, minimally invasive treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as enlarged prostate. Physicians perform the procedure under general anesthesia. It involves creating a surgical map of the prostate using ultrasound imaging, then removing excess prostrate tissue using a jet of water, and finally clearing the urethra channel. 

Dale had the procedure in March 2025 at Saint Luke’s East Hospital. “I’m a big fan of Saint Luke’s,” Dale says. “It’s always been my go-to place for care.” The procedure was quick and required only an overnight hospital stay. By noon the next day, Dale was on his way home. He was able to stop taking two medications he previously used to manage his prostate health. A few days later, Dale was back at work and feeling the difference. 

“Before the surgery, I’d be in a 45-minute meeting and have to run to the bathroom once or twice,” Dale says. “Now? I’m good. This has changed my life.”

Looking back, Dale’s decision to seek prostate surgery wasn’t just about him—it was about his family. Seeing his father and grandfather struggle over the years gave him the strength to pursue the relief they never got. For anyone with a family history of prostate cancer or other prostate issues, his message is clear.  

“Get yourself checked out,” Dale says. “And if your doctor says you’re a candidate for Aquablation, look into it, because it has made all the difference for me.” 

The board-certified specialists at Advanced Urologic Associates have been caring for patients’ urologic needs for more than 40 years across three convenient locations in Overland Park, Kansas, and Independence and Lee's Summit, Missouri. Using the latest technology for diagnosis as well as medical and surgical treatment, the highly skilled team provides personalized care plans for a wide range of urologic conditions. Learn more about Advanced Urologic Associates.