anyone have kidney problems from chemo or radiation

[peaceout]

I am in remission 3 yrs from rectal cancer. I have elivated BUN/creatinine levels and wondering if it could be a ling term side effect of 5FU and lucovorin and/or radiation. Has anyone had these issues?

[waw4]

Just a lay person reasoning!
It would seem possible, as I believe damage to the liver and/or kidneys are a possible side effect of 5-FU.

from chemocare.com
"Monitoring and testing:
You will be checked regularly by your health care professional while you are taking 5-FU, to monitor side effects and check your response to therapy. Periodic blood work to monitor your complete blood count (CBC) as well as the function of other organs (such as your kidneys and liver) will also be ordered."

You may want to look at/get the blood test reports done while you were in chemo - these would show the trends in levels during your treatment and comparison with your current blood levels may point you in a useful direction for answering your question.

[Joy]

I am experiencing kidney problems. My creatinine level was steady at 118 (slightly elevated) until last year when it took a big dive and is now at 180. Recently my hemoglobin went to a low of 8.8 with a diagnosis of MDS (refractory anemia ) which can be caused by Radiation and Chemo. I'm one of the "unlucky" people where the chemo and radiation did a lot of damage.
As an added......I have also been diagnosed with Chronic Lymph Leukemia as a secondary cancer.

[KimT]

My aunt has bladder, ureter and kidney damage from abdominal radiation. It took many years for it to show though and it was too late to reverse the damage. Her bladder is shot, she has to have stents in her ureters every 4 months and her kidneys function at about 25%. I think it's a good idea to keep an eye on your kidneys and bladder after radiation. It took 20 years for her symptoms to show and it was too late.

[Terry]

I don't think you were on Avastin since you didn't mention it but for anyone else with the problem that was on Avastin, that could be your problem.

Chemo could be the culprit, it's more likely to effect your liver but it is possible and that's why they check kidney and liver function by blood test at your appointments. Radiation should not have hit your kidneys but definately could have damaged your bladder. Do you have high blood pressure? Uncontrolled high blood pressure could also play a factor.

I'm starting to think anything is possible from chemo. It's unfortunate you have to deal with anything else after cancer.

God Bless!
Terry

[loralee]

ok crazy, My sister is laying in the hospital right now ,with really bad kidney problems, due to having radiation 22 years ago for a tumor in her colon. I was looking for answers when this site popped up. She is getting the run around ,because her doctor dosen't think it 's scare tissue built up , due to the cancer treatment . The doctor that handle her cancer said this could happen. Any help out there.

[eitter]

Me Me Me..........Radiation zapped all of my organs! I now have a Frozen pelvis because all my organs are pretty much fused together by scar tissue from radiation and My Kidneys took the brunt of the damage. I have severe Kidney Problems!

My Kidneys weren't functioning so I now have Kidney Stints changed out every 3 months for the REST OF MY LIFE and my bladder has diminished capacity. I get Kidney infections ALL THE TIME and sometimes land in the hospital!

I have the BEST Urologist and they are the best place to go to get your kidneys evaluated, your radiologist can do nothing at this point, their damage has been done!

Any more questions I would be happy to chat with you, I am the Kidney Queen!

[Joy]

Hi Liz
I went to my Oncologist and she said "You should see a kidney specialist", my hemotologist says "You should see a kidney specialist", my GP (family doc) says "You should see a kidney specialist" and now when I went for my CT scan to-day my GFR is at 23 and the CT technician said "Are you on dialysis?'


The problem is I have to be "referred" to a specialist I can't make an appointment. ......I'm getting very frustrated with the medical system here in Canada.

I'm fed up being Mrs. Nice.....guess I will have to "throw a fit"....

I am SURE that the chemo/radiation caused all of my problems.

[String]

Not kidney problem from the chemotherapy, but was treated for stage II kidney cancer at the same time as colon cancer stage IV.

The problem the doctors had was how to treat both at the same time. As kidney cancer grows slower than colon cancer, not that either grows fast from the first stage they decided to leave the kidney cancer to its' self. A method that now seems correct.

So for me it was tumor removal from the colon first. Then 6 treatments followed by surgery on the liver and kidney at the same-time then six more treatments.


I was told the chemotherapy would not compromise my kidney and not to worry about it. Seems they may have been right as the kidney is now functioning at normal levels.