What is prostate cancer treatment-related urine leakage?

Following prostate cancer treatment you may experience dribbling or loss of urine. This may be worse for surgery patients immediately after surgery. For radiation patients, it may take longer to notice.

What happens when you experience treatment-related urine leakage?

• You need to urinate more often than normal.
• You may dribble or leak urine.
• Once you feel a need to urinate, you may have problems waiting until you get to the bathroom.

What causes treatment-related urine leakage?

Loss of urine is usually a result of surgery or radiation used to treat prostate cancer. During surgery, part of the urinary tube and sphincter may have to be removed, which disrupts normal function. Radiation also affects this system, resulting in similar problems.

How do people cope with treatment-related urine leakage?

• Begin a bladder training program.
• Keep a diary to record where you are and what you when leakage occurs. Be sure to keep record if leakage was due to inability to get to a toilet in time and the amount of urine lost.
• Go to the bathroom every 2-3 hours while awake.
• Sit upright on the toilet, massage your stomach above your pelvic bone or lean forward to allow thighs to pressure on abdomen.
• Practice pelvic floor muscle exercises (Kegel exercises) regularly. See instructions on "Kegel Exercises for Urine Leakage Control" and MyoTrac guide.
• Wear Protection. Use Attends, Depends, or other incontinence guards until leakage is under control.
• Cleanse skin after each leakage episode and apply a cream or ointment to the area. Use A&D ointment or Aluminum paste.
• Carry extra incontinence pads with you when going out. You may want an extra pair of underwear and slacks with you in case of urine leakage from the pad.
• Limit fluid intake prior to going out or before bed. When away from home, try to adhere to your toileting schedule as much as possible.
• Avoid beverages containing caffeine. These beverages include coffee and some soft drinks.
• If urine control does not get better, discuss with your doctor other medical options.
• Consider a trial of intermittent self catheterization. Your nurse can help you with this.

What can family or significant others do to help with cancer treatment-related urine leakage?

Your family can help with urinary leakage by learning about the problem and helping you with your bladder training program. Their patience and understanding about the problem and how to improve it will be helpful. Bladder training may take several months before results are seen.

How can I talk with my partner about my cancer treatment-related urine leakage?

• Be open and honest with your partner about your treatment-related urine leakage.
• Talk with your partner in a place where you are both comfortable (like the bedroom, kitchen, yard, on a walk, out on the porch, etc.) Make sure there are no distractions.
• Calmly share with your partner your thoughts, feelings, and ideas about your urine leakage.
• Ask for your partner's thoughts, feelings, and ideas.
• Together with your partner, develop a plan to combat your urine leakage through exercise and training. Discuss ways to modify your activities while maintaining an active social and family life.

What symptoms should you report to the nurse?

Call your doctor or nurse if :

• you experience pain with urinating
• you have a fever
• you have pain in your side

Who can I call to get more information?

Contact your doctor, urology nurse, or radiation oncology nurse.

Contact the University of Pennsylvania at http://oncolink.upenn.edu/.

This information was conducted in affiliation with the Walther Cancer Institute, Indianapolis, IN