Urinary issues?--radiation

[Carolinagirl]

Did anyone experience urinary incontinenance/leakage following radiation? I just finished treatment one week ago and started having some problems with this after treatment ended. Anyone else have a similar experience? I called the physicians assistant who said that this is not usually a side effect.

[Jachut]

I do, but the complete opposite. At times I find it really difficult to urinate, its a drip drip drip thing. Oftentimes my hubby is banging on the door telling me to hurry up, but I have a very weak urine stream now.

[dianetavegia]

5FU affects all 'moist' areas. XELODA is 5FU. Possibly your concern is caused by the chemo?

I was already past menopause when I got colon cancer and didn't have radiation, but I've had serious problems with leakage and recurrent UTI's since chemo ended 5 years ago.

Do a websearch for Xeloda and urinary incontinence.

[Kathy]

I also have leakage and frequent UTIs since radiation 6 years ago. When I say I have to go to he bathroom, people assume it is because of my colostomy. It is because I have to urinate often. I had no issues before and my uro-gynocologist says it is from the radiation.

Kathy

[lorrainem]

Sadly yes, anotherthankyoucancergift. I have no sensation in my bladder, so it can be really full and I have no urge to pee. Leakage started pre-cancer and now post menopause, sneezing and laughing are dangerous. Its an inconvenience I've learned to manage 6 years post radiation/5fu or folfox whichever left their mark.
Good luck, I hope it becomes only an inconvenience for you too.

[laneylou]

I had something similar. Right at the end of radiation, I started feeling like I couldn't quite empty my bladder all the way, and then I'd notice just a little bit of leakage (a few drops or so), usually within about a half hour of a trip to the bathroom.

In my case, it went away (I can't remember exactly, but I think it was after about a month or so). I wore a pad for a while and that was it. Nearly 2 years out from end of radiation, I have no bladder issues. Hopefully it will be the same for you, an acute radiation effect that will get better

[Peabody5422]

Oh yea. Now when I have to go. I have to go! Also, after I go, I have to wait for the rest. It's like there is a pause after I void, then more leaks out. I have been out of radiation 2 yrs this month and the leakage has slowly gotten better but not completely. My side effects, neuropathy, etc all seem to get better with time so hang in there.

Female: 65
T1 Nc1 MX
Rectal (P-trap)
Surgery 12/23/11
Xeloda and Rad: Jan., 2012 thru April, 2012

[NWgirl]

I think the radiation can have an effect on your urinary issues. Shortly after radiation I had more issues with leakage - those have thankfully cleared up - except for the occasional sneeze issue - but I have to wonder how much of that just comes with age.

What I notice more now is that my mind doesn't always seem to know when I have a full bladder - and all of a sudden I have to go NOW - and pee for 5 minutes! Sort of a disconnect there. Thankfully though, leakage rarely if ever happens.

[Coppercent]

I had a kidney stone issue and ended up seeing a urologist. The kidney stones were caused from chemo induced dehydration. I have an issue with not being able to empty completely sometimes and having to go again shortly after I go the first time. On a rare occasion I have the "oh my I have to go now" issue. My urologist says he sees a lot of patients that have issues from radiation. I am not sure how common it is but radiation does seem to have an effect.

[Cj51]

Yes, what everyone else said. When I have to go, I have to gonow. I think part of it is because I just don't feel that my bladder is full until it's really full, and then it's an urgent situation. Ah, well, at least I'm here to complain about it.

[handicap18]

I had radiation 2 weeks before my surgery back in Dec '12. I don't recall having issues during that time. I did get an abscess/infection after surgery and have had bladder issues since then. For the most part it wasn't too bad. I think between the radiation, surgery and infection nerves going/coming from my bladder were damaged. I just couldn't go anymore no matter how full my bladder was. So I have to use a self catheter. Now I'm on Cetuximab which is being tested with a new drug (Phase 3 trial) called Imprime PGG. The Imprime is now giving me other bladder issues. Lot more leakage. Not particularly fun.

[rodey]

Did radiation trigger menopause? My gyn told me a combination of radiation and menopause weakens your pelvic floor, resulting in some dribbling. Fun stuff.

[beccab1]

Eric has urgency issues - with basically no warning, he has to go and go bad... He hasn't seen a urologist but probably should. His surgeon said it's normal...

[Carolinagirl]

Thanks for the replies. Sometimes you just want to know that what is going on is "normal".

[grace06]

I had my radiation/5FU close to the end of 2009. My Radiation Onc stressed to me the 'importance' of having a really full bladder before radiation. Every day about 3 hours before treatment I drank 6 (8 0z,s) of water.
They even used a brace like object pushed against my bladder, to help protect my bladder from the radiation while on the table.

I took 6 to 8 imotium at that time also to stop or help with the diarrhea that I was prone to.

There were a couple of times I had diarrhea 'anyway' and they made me wait in the clinic until I had drank the water and my bladderr was full.

All this time and I have not had a bladder problem.

NO one has mentioned having to do that proceture?

This may be something anyone starting onethe Radiation may wish to speak with the Radiologis' about.


I really don't post much, but if this can help any one, then I am overjoyed I could help a bit.

grace06