Many men get urinary problems as a side effect of their treatment. This is because prostate cancer treatment can damage the nerves and muscles that control when you urinate (pee).If you’re starting treatment for prostate cancer, ask your doctor about the possible side effects. Each treatment can cause different urinary problems. Your chances of getting each side effect will depend on the treatment you’re having, and on whether or not you had urinary problems before starting treatment.If you’ve already had prostate cancer treatment and you have urinary problems, tell your doctor or nurse. They can suggest treatments and lifestyle changes to help manage them.Depending on the type of problems you’re having, ways to manage them can include, bladder retraining, medicines or surgery. For practical tips read our.Watch for one man's experience of managing urinary problems after prostate cancer treatment. Can cause urinary problems, including:.
'Double voiding' - This is simply waiting a short time after your first urination to try and go again. Bladder retraining and pelvic muscle exercises such as kegels help the nerves and muscles used in emptying the bladder work better. BEHAVIORAL TREATMENTS. Dietary changes; Fluid management; Pelvic Muscle Exercises; Biofeedback; Bladder retraining.
leaking urine.Leaking urineThis is the most common urinary problem after surgery. When you wake up after surgery, you’ll have a thin tube called a catheter in your penis. This is to drain urine out of your body. You'll usually have a catheter for about seven to 10 days after surgery.
Most men can’t control their bladder properly when their catheter is first removed. This is because surgery can damage the muscles and nerves that control when you urinate.Your hospital may give you some absorbent incontinence pads to put in your underwear. But you might want to take some pads with you when you go to have your catheter removed. Close fitting underwear can help to keep the pads in place, and men often find loose, lightweight trousers most comfortable.You might just leak a few drops when you exercise, cough or sneeze (stress incontinence). Or you might leak larger amounts.
Some men also leak urine when they get an erection or during sex.Leaking urine usually improves with time. Most men start to see an improvement one to six months after surgery.
But other men leak urine for a year or more, and some men never fully recover, even if they have treatments to help with their incontinence. Artificial urinary sphincterThis involves surgery to fit a small device that consists of:. a fluid-filled cuff that fits around your urethra. a balloon in front of your bladder.
a pump in your scrotum (the skin around your testicles).The cuff presses the urethra closed so that you don't leak urine. This means you can control when you urinate.
You squeeze the pump in your scrotum – this moves the fluid out of the cuff and into the balloon. When the cuff is empty it stops pressing your urethra closed, letting urine pass through the urethra so that you can urinate. After a few minutes, the fluid flows back into the cuff, pressing the urethra closed again.An artificial urinary sphincter is usually only suitable for men who still leak a lot of urine at least six months after their prostate cancer treatment.You’ll have an operation to fit the device.
You will have a general anaesthetic, so you’ll be asleep and won’t feel anything.Like all operations, there are risks in having an artificial urinary sphincter, such as infection or parts of the device breaking. Some men need another operation to fix problems. Around one in 10 men (10 per cent) may need their device taken out. Your doctor or nurse can tell you more about the possible risks.If your hospital doesn’t do this type of surgery, your doctor may be able to refer you to one that does. Adjustable balloonsThis involves surgery to place two small fluid-filled balloons around your urethra (the tube you urinate through). The balloons press on the urethra to stop urine leaking out – but you should still be able to urinate when you want to.Each balloon contains fluid and is attached to a device called a ‘port’, which is placed in your scrotum. Your doctor can use these ports to make the balloons bigger or smaller at any time.
So if you still leak urine after the balloons are fitted, your doctor can inject more fluid into them so that they get bigger and press more on the urethra. If you can’t urinate properly, your doctor can remove some fluid from the balloons so they press on the urethra less.Balloons may be an option if you still leak urine more than six months after your prostate cancer treatment. But you probably won't be able to have them if you've had radiotherapy.There are risks in having these balloons.
They include infection, or the balloons shrinking or moving, and you may need to have the balloons removed. Your doctor or nurse can tell you more about the possible risks.Adjustable balloons aren’t very common in the UK. If your hospital doesn’t do this type of surgery, your doctor may be able to refer you to one that does.MedicinesIf you continue to leak urine, or if other treatments aren’t suitable for you, you may be offered a medicine called an anti-cholinergic to help keep the urethra closed, or to calm your bladder down.
This can help to reduce leakages. All drugs can cause side effects, so talk to your doctor or nurse about the possible side effects and how to manage them. Difficulty urinatingSome men may find it difficult to urinate after surgery. This is caused by scarring, which can cause the urethra to become narrow. This isn’t very common after surgery.
Both (EBRT) and can cause urinary problems, including:. bladder irritation.
needing to urinate more often. a sudden urge to urinate , and you may sometimes leak before you get to the toilet (urge incontinence). (urine retention).Some men may after radiotherapy, but this is less common. It is more likely if you’ve previously had surgery for an. Radiation cystitisRadiotherapy can irritate the lining of the bladder and the urethra – this is called radiation cystitis.
Symptoms include:. needing to urinate more often, including at night. a burning feeling when you urinate. difficulty urinating. blood in the urine.Symptoms can start within a few days of your first treatment. They usually begin to improve when your treatment ends. But some men get symptoms for several months.
And some don’t get symptoms until months or even years after their final treatment.Symptoms such as blood in the urine can be worrying, but this is quite a common symptom of radiation cystitis.If you get symptoms of radiation cystitis, tell your doctor or nurse. They can check whether your symptoms are caused by your treatment or an infection. What can help with radiation cystitis?There are treatments that can help with radiation cystitis, as well as things you can do yourself.Lifestyle changesDrink plenty of fluids (1.5-2 litres, or 3-4 pints a day), but try to avoid fizzy drinks, drinks containing caffeine – such as tea, coffee and cola – and alcohol, as these can irritate the bladder.Some men find that drinking cranberry juice helps.
But you should avoid cranberry juice if you’re taking warfarin to thin your blood.Bladder washThis is a liquid medicine that coats and protects the lining of the bladder, making it less irritated. A small tube (catheter) is passed up your penis and fills your bladder with the liquid medicine. You then go to the toilet to empty your bladder.
Urinary frequency and urgencySome men find they need to urinate more often after having radiotherapy (urinary frequency). You may also need to urinate more often at night (nocturia). If this happens, it might help to drink less in the two hours before you go to bed.You might get sudden urges to urinate that are hard to ignore (urinary urgency). And a small number of men leak urine before they can reach the toilet (urge incontinence).
This happens when the bladder muscles twitch and squeeze (spasm) without you controlling them. This pushes urine out before you're ready. What can help with urinary frequency and urgency?There are treatments that can help with urinary frequency and urgency, as well as things you can do yourself.Bladder retrainingIf you need to urinate more often than usual or sometimes leak before reaching the toilet, you could try a technique called bladder retraining. This can help you control when you urinate, and help you hold on for longer. Speak to your specialist continence nurse or physiotherapist for more information.MedicinesDrugs called anti-cholinergics can help to reduce frequency, urgency and leaks.
If you can't have anto-cholinergics, you may be offered mirabegron (Betmiga ®) tablets.Percutaneous posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS)This is quite a new treatment that may help some men to urinate and leak urine less often. A needle is placed under the skin just above your ankle. A low electrical current is passed through the needle to affect the nerves that control urination. This can help stop the bladder from emptying before it’s full.Botulinum toxin (BOTOX ®)Injecting BOTOX ® into the wall of the bladder can help stop the bladder squeezing out urine before it’s full. This is quite a new treatment for urinary frequency and urgency and it’s not available in all hospitals. Difficulty urinatingSome men find it hard to empty their bladder properly after radiotherapy – this is called urine retention. This may be more likely if you have an enlarged prostate.
Radiotherapy, particularly brachytherapy, can cause the prostate to swell and block the urethra, leading to urine retention. It can also cause the urethra to become narrow – this is called a stricture.Chronic urine retentionSome men can still urinate a little, but can’t empty their bladder fully – this is known as chronic urine retention. The first signs often include:. leaking urine at night. feeling that your abdomen (stomach area) is swollen.
feeling that you’re not emptying your bladder fully. a weak flow when you urinate.Tell your doctor or nurse if you get any of these symptoms. Chronic urine retention is usually painless, but the pressure of the urine can cause the bladder muscles to slowly stretch and become weaker. This can cause urine to be left behind in the bladder when you urinate. You may be more likely to get urine infections, bladder stones, blood in your urine or kidney problems.Treatments for chronic urine retention include:. a catheter to drain urine from the bladder.
drugs (alpha blockers or 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors). surgery to widen the urethra or the opening of the bladder.Acute urine retentionThis is when you suddenly and painfully can’t urinate – it needs treating straight away.
If this happens, call your doctor or nurse, or go to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department. They may need to use a catheter to drain your bladder. You’re more likely to get urinary problems after if you’ve already had other treatments for prostate cancer. Possible urinary problems include:. difficulty urinating. leaking urine.
urine infections.Difficulty urinatingHIFU usually causes the prostate to swell for a week or two, so you’ll have a catheter to drain urine from your bladder until the swelling has gone. HIFU can also cause the urethra to become narrow, making it difficult to empty your bladder.
Leaking urineHIFU can cause some men to leak urine when they cough, sneeze or exercise (stress incontinence). This may be more likely if you’ve already had radiotherapy. Urine infectionsSome men get a urine infection after HIFU. If this happens, you’ll be given a course of antibiotics to clear the infection. You’re more likely to get urinary problems after if you’ve already had radiotherapy. Possible urinary problems include:.
difficulty urinating. leaking urineDifficulty urinatingCryotherapy can cause the prostate to swell, making it difficult to urinate for a week or two. You’ll have a catheter to drain urine from your bladder until the swelling has gone.
Cryotherapy may also cause the urethra or the opening of the bladder to become narrow, making it difficult to urinate. Leaking urineA small number of men who have cryotherapy may leak urine.
This is more likely if you’ve already had radiotherapy. There are ways to. Urinary problems can affect your self-esteem and independence, and affect your work, social and sex life.Making some may help, and there are some practical steps that can make things easier. Try to drink plenty of fluids, but cut down on fizzy drinks, alcohol, tea and coffee as these may irritate the bladder. Do regular to help strengthen the muscles that control when you urinate.
Try to stay a. Being overweight can put pressure on your bladder and pelvic floor muscles.
If you smoke, try to stop. Smoking can cause coughing which puts pressure on your pelvic floor muscles. NHS Choices has more information about stopping smoking. Plan ahead when you go out. For example, find out where there are public toilets before leaving home.
Pack a bag with extra pads, underwear and wet wipes. Some men also find it useful to carry a screw-top container in case they can’t find a toilet. Get our to help make it easier to ask for urgent access to a toilet. Disability Rights UK runs a for anyone who needs access to locked public toilets across the UK because of a disability or health condition. If you often need to use the toilet at night, leave a light on in case you’re in a hurry, or keep a container near your bed.Your GP, specialist nurse or continence nurse can offer you practical and emotional support. You can also speak to our. It can sometimes help to talk to other men living with prostate cancer.
We have a range of services that can help put you in touch with someone who’s been there and understands what you’re going through. Visit our page to find out more.For more information look at our.