PAE Treatment for Prostate Before Cancer Therapy

Many men experience an enlarged prostate due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), meaning their condition is not cancerous. However, some men with prostate cancer may also experience prostate enlargement, along with many of the same lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) suffered by those with BPH. And, according to experts at the Moffitt Cancer Center, undergoing PAE treatment for prostate enlargement prior to undergoing prostate cancer therapy may be beneficial.

What is PAE?

PAE, or prostatic artery embolization, is a non-surgical medical procedure that blocks flow to the artery feeding your prostate. This happens when our interventional radiologists deposit embolic materials in the artery, via catheter and x-ray guided imaging.

Now, for men with BPH, undergoing PAE treatment for prostate enlargement can provide fast relief from symptoms such as urinary urgency and waking in the night to pass urine. Better yet, it provides relief without the need for surgery or overnight hospital stays, all with a far lower risk of sexual side effects or other serious complications. And now, it turns out that men with prostate cancer may also benefit from undergoing PAE treatment prior to beginning radiation therapy.

PAE Treatment for Prostate Prior to Prostate Cancer Therapy

According to Dr. Nainesh Parikh, an interventional radiologist who is also Moffitt Cancer Center's assistant chief medical officer, patients who undergo PAE prior to radiation therapy for cancer therapy may be able to shorten the course of their cancer treatment. At the same time, they will benefit from LUTS reductions, as well as a beneficial reduction in the size of their prostates. Furthermore, he told the BackTable Podcast that, with more research, PAE may be beneficial to men who are undergoing other forms of prostate cancer treatment, along with men who experience prostatits or chronic pelvic pain after prostate radiation therapy.

PAE in Texas

Whether you have been diagnosed with BPH or prostate cancer, choosing this medical procedure can offer symptom relief and shrink your prostate without surgery. Ready to see if you're a candidate for prostatic artery embolization? Click here to request an appointment at the Texas Prostate Institute today!