Prostate Artery Embolization if cancer is present?

I recently had a discussion with an Interventional Radiologist while sharing a dinner table on a cruise ship. He was talking about his profession, and I asked him if he worked on prostate issues. He said that his practice has had great success with prostate artery embolization (PAE), in which needles are used to inject plastic blocking materials into the arteries supplying blood to the prostate gland. They are able to reduce the gland size up to 85 percent with this procedure, which he considered a game-changer for men with enlarged prostates.

Here is a typical description of the procedure. Note the impressive before-and-after images.

http://www.inova.org/healthcare-services/interventional-radiology/types-of-services/prostate-artery-embolization

My question for the forum: This procedure is designed to relieve the symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), but can it be used for men with BHP who also have diagnosed prostate cancer? My prostate isn't getting any smaller with age, and this option would be great to have available, if it is not contraindicated.

Anyone know the answer?

ASAdvocate: that link is broken.

Hi,

My friend just had it done for his father with prostate cancer who was in retention for months and bleeding, at Jackson Memorial hospital Miami. They could not do surgery on him because of his age and poor health. HE did great after PAE, no more bleeding, urine good.
The doctor there explained that he does it also to shrink the prostate before radiation. so it's not really for treatment of cancer, but promising to help patient with cancer.

http://jacksonhealth.org/blog/2016-09-29-Javier-Mondragon-prostate-awareness-month.asp#gref

Actually a large prostate is easier for PAE since the arteries are bigger than those of a smaller prostate.
Totally the opposite for surgery, they seem to have problems with bigger prostates, not to mention the risk of bleeding etc..

Dr Kably has treated several cancer patients, and he said all did well in terms of symptoms ( not cure) but quality of life for patients is much much better than after surgery.