Marvin Mullen has always enjoyed an active lifestyle. From his 25 years of work as a forensic scientist, to his regular rounds of golf in eastern North Carolina and his love of sporting events, Mullen has never been interested in slowing down, even in retirement.
That all changed when he was diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in 2024 which is a common condition affecting 3 million men each year, BPH is a condition where the prostate gland enlarges over time causing urinary flow disruptions. While the causes of BPH are not clear, the condition typically affects older men and is known to get worse over time.
For the first time, Mullen, 81, had to confront the reality of not doing the things he loved most because the disease simply got in the way.
“My whole lifestyle changed,” Mullen said. “I didn’t go to events because I didn’t know how far I would be away from a bathroom. I had to keep Depends in my vehicle. I was waking up so frequently at night because I had to use the bathroom so often. I felt like I couldn’t even visit my daughters in Baltimore because every 50 miles or so I would have to pull off the highway to find a bathroom.”
Desperate for answers, Mullen started doing research on the condition seeking for solutions that would help him get back to the things he loved most. He wanted to avoid traditional surgical options if possible. He visited his local urologist who referred him to a specialist to explore his options. That’s how he got in touch with Dr. Karl Chiang, chief of Interventional Radiology at ECU Health and professor at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University.
After a consultation with Dr. Chiang, Mullen found out he was an ideal candidate for prostate artery embolization (PAE), a minimally invasive procedure where x-rays and other advanced imaging technologies help doctors see inside the body so they can treat the condition without surgery using tiny catheters.
“This procedure is a game changer,” said Dr. Chiang, who started performing the procedure in 2024 and is currently the only interventional radiologist in the region who offers PAE. “Urologists now have an alternative if patients don’t qualify for surgery or patients are fearful of the possible sexual dysfunction side effects of surgery. PAE is well-tolerated, preformed like an outpatient surgery and we’ve been pleased with the clinical results without complications so far.”
Things changed again when Dr. Chiang performed the PAE procedure on Mullen in June of 2024 – this time for the better. Mullen was home the same day and the results were almost immediate.
“After a couple of days, it was hardly an issue anymore,” said Mullen. “By the time a month had gone by, there was significant change. When I went to see Dr. Chiang for my three month check up I was surprised at how much of a difference it all was. I was pleased that we were well on our way to significant change.”
Mullen is proud to say he’s back to doing what he loves. His golf game is back on track, he’s able to travel to see his daughters and he can attend the events he loves alongside his wife without worrying about the closest bathroom.
“There’s no question that I would do this all over again, and I would recommend that anybody who fits this category should at least consider the PAE procedure,” said Mullen. “Everything went smoothly and I give credit to Dr. Chiang and his team.”
For Dr. Chiang, he hopes to see others share in Mullen’s success with PAE. The BPH condition is common and others may be living with the same difficulties that Mullen experienced. While not everyone will qualify for PAE, Dr. Chiang said the procedure and other offerings available at ECU Health can help men dealing with BPH get back to the things they love, too.
“If you’re struggling with BPH, my advice is simple: call your urologist,” Dr. Chiang said. “I’m thrilled we now have this procedure at ECU Health and we’re truly committed to providing high-quality cutting-edge interventional radiology offerings to people across eastern North Carolina.”