Prostate cancer diagnosis fuels man’s Boston Marathon run

Abe Wrobleski, 49, who splits his time between Tamworth, Virginia and Arizona, said his diagnosis in spring 2025 came as a complete surprise.

“I mean, I had zero symptoms. It was literally through a PSA blood screening on a routine physical,” Wrobleski said in an April 2 interview. “We had no reason to think that there was anything wrong.”

Doctors later determined the cancer had progressed beyond his prostate.

“So Stage 4 means that when they did all the pathology and PET scans and everything else I went through,” he said. “Basically Stage 4 is it spread to my lymph nodes, into my nerves on my left side, so it wasn't contained in my prostate anymore.”

Despite the severity of the diagnosis, Wrobleski said he has responded well to treatment. He underwent surgery Oct. 10 at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., followed by weeks of recovery and participation in clinical trials.

“I had about 10 weeks of downtime where it was limited, couldn't lift anything over 10 pounds, very limited exercise,” he said. “And then after that, I was kind of allowed to go back as I felt better.”

During that time, he said, the biggest challenge was holding himself back physically.

“I think the hardest part for me was during those 10 weeks was like limiting yourself,” Wrobleski said. “Like, you know you want to do more, but you just can't.”

He also underwent additional treatments and continues to be closely monitored.

“I still for the next, I think five years, have my PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) level checked every three months, just to make sure it's monitored,” he said.

So far, those results have been encouraging.

“PSA checks every 3 months have stayed below undetectable levels,” according to background information provided during the interview.

Now regaining strength, Wrobleski has turned his focus to the 130th Boston Marathon, scheduled for April 20. Although he has completed endurance events in the past, including the Vermont 50, which is a 50-mile trail race, this will be his first marathon.

“I have not run a marathon,” he said. “I've run an ultra marathon… But I don't like running, so the marathon  I've definitely trained for it, but it was something that popped up.”

Wrobleski has always been athletic and was a standout football, basketball and baseball player at Kennett class of 1995. 

The opportunity came unexpectedly through his work. Wrobleski is a senior vice president for a company called InProduction that builds temporary stadiums for major sporting events, including the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

While working at the tournament, he met representatives connected to the Boston Marathon.

“They kind of asked me, ‘Hey, would you be interested in running the marathon?’” he said. “So it was just an opportunity to kind of presented itself.”

Although participation alone is a significant goal, Wrobleski and his family decided to use the race to raise money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation and raise awareness of the disease that kills around 300,000 men world wide each year.

“I mean, we're going to raise like $5,000,” he said. “We'll raise probably $5,000 and just getting the awareness out for the, you know, most importantly, get people tested, get their PSA tested.”

He emphasized that prostate cancer is often misunderstood as a disease affecting only older men.

“I’m obviously young, active. So for us, it was a complete surprise,” he said. “And I think typically people think of prostate cancer as happening in older adults, which is not the case.”

That message — encouraging routine testing — has become central to his efforts.

“It’s something that people just need to,” Wrobleski said. “And that's been our biggest thing with the fundraisers. Just like, you know, get, get the word out, get people to check their PSAs and think about it.”

Wrobleski said his experience has also been shaped by strong support from family, friends and medical providers. His wife, Nicole, has been closely involved throughout his treatment and fundraising efforts, and several relatives and friends plan to attend the marathon.

“My wife, Nicole, will be there. We have some friends … My parents will be there,” he said.

Although he acknowledged the diagnosis was frightening, he maintains a measured outlook.

“I mean, it's definitely scary. It's something like, like, said we didn't expect it,” he said. “And, you know, out of the blue. Here you go. And life as you know, it changes, right?”

For race day, Wrobleski is keeping expectations simple.

“I do not have a time in mind,” he said. “I mean, my goal is on, obviously, just to finish it at this point.”

He added that completing the marathon — regardless of time — will mark an important milestone in his recovery and advocacy.

“I’m going to finish that,” he said.

To donate to Wrobleski's fundraiser, go to 

https://pcfcommunity.funraise.org/fundraiser/abe-wrobleskis-fundraiser.