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Jordan Pysz / iFoundMyDoctor.com
Dennis, a Navy veteran, plays darts four times a week to relax during retirement.
In 1971, the Vietnam War was in full force. The conflict pitted communist North Vietnam against South Vietnam and its allies, which included the United States. That year, Dennis Stacy was worried about being drafted into the Army, so he joined the Navy. He went on to serve in the military for 21 years before he retired. Dennis didn’t stay retired, however. After more than a decade on the sidelines and in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Dennis went to work for the newly formed Department of Homeland Security. He worked for the department for three years, devoting the bulk of his time to beefing up security at major US airports. “My job was to travel around the country and replace the private airport security with TSA (Transportation Security Administration) employees,” Dennis says. “I did that at San Francisco International Airport, Kennedy International Airport in New York, Hollywood-Fort Lauderdale International Airport and Daytona Beach International Airport.” Now retired completely, Dennis relaxes in his free time by playing darts. He’s the captain for a local darts league and plays four times a week at venues around Brevard County. His fun was interrupted a few years ago, however, when he developed a serious health condition. “In 2015, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer,” Dennis reveals. “I was treated with proton therapy, so my prostate wasn’t removed. But then, as happens with most men as they age, my prostate began to grow. As it grew, I began to experience some uncomfortable urinary issues. “Frequency was one of those issues. I was getting up to use the bathroom three, four, five times a night. I also couldn’t go very long without visiting a bathroom. When I traveled, I had to stop often to use the restroom. And I didn’t have a good urine stream. When it got really bad, I knew I had to have something done to restore a positive flow.” Having an enlarged prostate is a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It 
is primarily caused by age-related hormonal imbalances, particularly declining testosterone and increasing estrogen levels, along with genetic predisposition, inflammation and lifestyle factors like obesity and diet. BPH affects urination because the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body, runs through the center of the prostate. As the prostate gets larger, it presses against and pinches the urethra, which causes urinary symptoms such as frequency and a weak urine stream. For years, the gold standard for treating symptomatic BPH was transurethral resection of the prostate, or TURP. The procedure involves cutting away some of the prostate tissue to create a bigger channel for the urethra to pass through the prostate and relieve urinary symptoms. Dennis was not sold on TURP, so his urologist recommended UroLift. During this minimally invasive procedure, which is performed through the penis, the doctor uses tiny implants that lift and hold the enlarged prostate away from the obstructed urethra. With the blockage relieved. urinary symptoms improve. As with TURP, there’s a risk for complications with UroLift, including sexual side effects. That also didn’t appeal to Dennis, so he began researching alternative treatments for BPH. The one that caught his attention is prostate artery embolization. Prostate artery embolization (PAE) is a minimally invasive endovascular procedure that is performed through the blood vessels. The aim is to shrink the prostate by limiting its blood supply. Instead of creating a bigger channel for the urethra, as with TURP, the prostate is shrunk from within. “While doing some additional research on the procedure, I came across Dr. Dunfee’s information and learned that he has a good record with the procedure,” Dennis notes. “So, I made an appointment with Dr. Dunfee.”
Ischemic Atrophy
Brian L. Dunfee, MD, and his partner, Robert J. Kennedy, MD, are board-certified vascular and interventional radiologists at Interventional & Vascular Center in Melbourne. They use image-guided techniques like PAE to treat BPH. “Mr. Stacy came to our practice about a year ago,” says Dr. Dunfee, who used ultrasound to examine Dennis’ prostate. In doing so, Dr. Dunfee discovered that Dennis’ prostate weighed almost 100 grams, which is about 70 grams larger than normal. In addition, Dennis’ International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), which measures the severity of symptoms, was 22, indicating life-altering concerns. To correct these problems, Dennis and Dr. Dunfee agreed to go ahead with prostate artery embolization. “In order to grow, all tissue needs oxygen and nutrients from blood,” Dr. Dunfee educates. “When the prostate’s blood supply is disrupted as it is with a prostate artery embolization, some of its cells die in a process that is called ischemic atrophy. As a result, the gland shrinks to a size where symptoms improve.” Prostate artery embolization is a same-day procedure that can be performed at Interventional & Vascular Center. While the patient is under moderate sedation, a long, skinny tube called a catheter is inserted into an artery, typically in the groin. Under fluoroscopic guidance, the doctor navigates the catheter through the arterial system and into the arteries that feed the prostate. “Once we’re in these arteries, we inject small gelatin-like beads that block blood flow to the prostate gland,” Dr. Dunfee explains. “Blocking blood flow doesn’t kill the prostate, but it brings about atrophy, which causes it to shrink slowly over time. “As the prostate shrinks, it pulls away from the urethra, which slowly alleviates the blockage. As the blockage is reduced, patients start to urinate the way they did when they were younger and had a normal-sized prostate gland.”
“Feeling 20 Years Younger”
Dr. Dunfee performed Dennis’ PAE in December. The interventional radiologist says the results were “phenomenal.” “After the procedure, Dennis’ prostate shrunk in size to 30 grams,” the doctor informs. “His IPSS dropped from 22 to 6, which is normal. And we ultimately tapered him off of his medication.” Dennis reports that his symptoms of urinary frequency and poor flow are much better since undergoing the procedure. “I may get up one time at night, but rarely do I get up twice,” he informs. “And oftentimes, I don’t get up at all. I go pretty much all day without having to use the restroom. I may go twice throughout the entire day, where I used to have to go every 45 minutes to an hour, hour and a half. And my urine stream is perfect now. “The procedure was extremely successful. It more than helped me. It has me feeling 20 years younger. Agreeing to have the embolization was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.” Dennis is just as pleased with his decision to visit Interventional & Vascular Center and have Dr. Dunfee perform the procedure. “He’s the best doctor I’ve ever met in my life,” Dennis raves. “Dr. Dunfee is amazing. His bedside manner is absolutely wonderful. “He’s a caring, honest, straightforward guy, and when you’re with him, he treats you like you’re his only focus. I highly recommend him.”
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