Hello, my brother who is 76, at the end of October 2023 had a tumour removed from his bladder, since then he has been bladder incontinent , is this normal?
Hello, my brother who is 76, at the end of October 2023 had a tumour removed from his bladder, since then he has been bladder incontinent , is this normal?
Hello Skybluepink
Thanks for getting in touch. My name is Helen, I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurses on the Macmillan Support Line.
Welcome to the online community.
I was sorry to read that your brother is experiencing urinary incontinence following the removal of a bladder cancer.
He may have undergone a procedure known as a TURBT - that’s a trans-urethral resection (or removal) of a bladder tumour. Having a TURBT is usually a safe procedure and becoming incontinent as a result of the surgery is not a common side-effect.
However, urinary tract infections can happen because of the surgery, or due to the urinary catheter sometimes needed after the surgery. Urinary tract infections can cause issues with bladder control.
Signs of an infection include:
It important that your brother reports his continence symptoms to his GP so that they can test his urine and prescribe antibiotics if needed.
If the urine test is clear, we would recommend your brother gets back in contact with his urology team at the hospital in case he requires further investigations.
If he did have a TURBT, your brother would have been instructed not to lift heavy objects at least for three weeks after as this can place a strain on the bladder and cause incontinence.
He would also have been advised to drink plenty of fluids – at least 2 pints a day. Many people with urinary incontinence avoid drinking fluids, as they feel it causes more problems. However, limiting fluid intake can make incontinence worse, because it reduces the bladder's capacity, and also prevents the bladder from being well flushed. Caffeine and alcohol can irritate the bladder, so water may be best for the moment.
Being constipated can also impact on continence. If your brother is not so active as he was or is restricting his fluids, this can make his digestive system sluggish, and cause additional pressure on his bladder.
While he is waiting to get his symptoms sorted, he may like to order a Just Can’t Wait card (the digital card is free, the plastic card has a small cost attached) and may also find this map helpful.
Bladder and Bowel UK has information on managing continence and incontinence products.
I hope this information is useful and that your brother gets his issues sorted out quickly. If you feel he would like to chat through how he is feeling, he is most welcome to give us a call.
In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to get back in contact by email, webchat or phone, if you need further information or support.
The Macmillan Support Line offers practical, clinical, financial and emotional support. You can call us free from landlines and from most mobile phone networks on 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week, 8am – 8pm.
Best wishes, Helen
Cancer Information Nurse Specialist
Ref HM/CF
