An issue with his prostate gland left John Apple with no urinary function and even less hope. He had relied on a catheter for over a year and was told by his doctor in Conway that he was going to have to use one for the rest of his life.
A growth in his pelvis led to him being referred to Dr. Bob Dixon, an interventional radiologist at UAMS. After doing a biopsy on John, Dr. Dixon recommended a procedure that he thought could help his prostate problem. Prostate artery embolization (PAE) is an outpatient procedure and requires less recovery time than surgery to treat enlarged prostate. Within a month of undergoing the minimally invasive procedure, John noticed a complete change in his urinary function. After being told he was facing a lifetime of using a catheter, John is looking forward to a long and healthy life without complications.
“Now I’m fine and I don’t have to live with a catheter, so I’m very thankful to Dr. Dixon. I turned 69 last year and he told me that at my age there was a likelihood that the PAE procedure would last me the rest of my life. But I might surprise him and outlive it and have to have it done again.”
– John Apple, Conway