Urinary symptoms and infections

Some treatments for breast cancer can cause urinary symptoms or increase the risk of infection.

It is important to tell your medical oncologist, GP or nurse if you have any urinary problems. They can take action to treat you and make you more comfortable.

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

Chemotherapy drugs don’t directly cause urinary tract infections, but some affect your immune system. This makes it easier to get infections, including UTIs. Some treatments can cause vaginal dryness, which may also increase your risk.

Hormone-blocking therapy reduces the amount of oestrogen in the body. This can cause vaginal and vulval dryness. The result can be itchiness, irritation and discomfort, which increase your risk of infections.

Signs of UTI

It is important you seek treatment immediately if you develop any signs of kidney or bladder problems, especially a fever, chills or pain.

Symptoms to be aware of are:

• pain or burning when you pass urine
• the need to wee frequently
• a feeling that you must urinate right away
• reddish, bloody or cloudy urine
• fever or chills
• pain in the sides of your back or lower abdomen
• the flow of your urine stops even though you don't feel 'finished'.

Ways to prevent infection

It is important that you practise good personal hygiene during treatment to help minimise the risk. To help, also try to:

• drink 6 to 8 glasses of water a day
• wear cotton underwear and loose fitting clothes
• use a vaginal moisturiser such as Replens or Pjur to reduce vaginal dryness
• use extra lubrication during sex if your vaginal tissue is dry or thin.

Bladder irritation with chemotherapy

Chemotherapy treatments – cyclophosphamide in particular – can irritate the bladder.

Signs of bladder irritation

The signs of a bladder irritation are:

• pain or burning when you urinate
• trouble starting to urinate
• you need to urinate often
• reddish or bloody urine.

Ways to reduce bladder irritation

• drink plenty of fluids at the time of your treatment and in the following days
• try to empty your bladder regularly, as soon as you feel the urge.

Changes in urine colour after chemotherapy

Some chemotherapy drugs – anthracyclines such as Adriamycin – are red in colour. They will stain your urine pink or orange for 24 to 48 hours after each treatment.

This is not blood in your urine. The red colour shows the drug is passing through your kidneys and bladder.

Drink plenty of fluids at the time of your treatment and in the following days.