Disclaimer

Although we take care to ensure accuracy, Macmillan Cancer Support does not accept liability for the information and materials provided or referenced in Ask an Expert or for any errors or omissions in them, or for third-party information or services such as other websites we may link to. The information and materials provided or referenced in Ask an Expert are for information purposes only and are not intended to be legal, financial or medical advice or opinions. If you need more details on your rights, please contact a financial, legal or other appropriate adviser.

We recommend that you consult your doctor if you are concerned about your health. Any You should not rely on any information and materials provided or referenced in Ask an Expert including by our Experts as they are not a replacement for advice, diagnosis or treatment from your medical team, and our Experts cannot provide a second opinion to that of your medical team.

Your question can be read by others – so please don't post your contact details or any other information that could personally identify you. Please read our Terms and Conditions and Community Guidelines for more details.

Nephrostomy Bag Help

Rob83
  • 1 reply
  • 42 subscribers
  • 157 views

Good Morning,

My Father suffered acute kidney failure around 7 months ago due to his prostate cancer which resulted in him having a bilateral Nephrostomy.

Due to infections he has had to have the Nephrostomy bags that sit over the wound on the back. He did attempt the method whereby the pipes come out of the back into day bags on a belt but despite there being pipe guards on the back he repeatedly had trauma on the wounds that caused infections.

Whilst the back-fitted bags have helped with the infections, my Father is suffering from regular leaks from the bags as they keep peeling off his back, especially from the bottom end of the bags.

We have tried heating the bags adhesive (and the same goes for the additional hydrocolloid “half moons” we also add but still the leakages persist.

Any tips on how to prevent this as it’s really getting him down? 

I have seen some people recommend "Convex" adhesive bags.

Also Would Ostomy / Barrier rings help as his skin is not very flat?

Finally he is concerned about the length of pipes coming out of his wounds. One of them is retreated quite a lot into one of the wounds. Is this something to worry about and can the pipe be gently pulled out slightly?

Thank you in advance.

Rob

  • Hi Rob83,

    Thanks for getting in touch and welcome back I see that you are on other groups. I hope you are finding these helpful.  I’m Kate one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists here on the Macmillan Support Line.

    I am sorry to hear that dad had a bilateral nephrostomy due to acute kidney failure caused by his prostate cancer.

    It must be difficult for dad with having the regular leaks caused by his urostomy bags. It is good that you have tried different techniques even though it leads back to the bags leaking. It is understandable that dad must be feeling down with this concern.

    It maybe helpful for dad to talk to someone who is used to living with a nephrostomy. his team or the Urostomy Association may be able to arrange this for him.

    With the Tube that has retracted a lot we would advise contacting your dad’s hospital team as soon as possible and making them aware of this change.

    It sounds like dad would benefit from an assessment from the Stoma nurse. There are a variety of bags which will hopefully offer a better fitting around the tubes.

    If you are unable to contact Dad’s hospital team, you could contact the District nurses for support.

    I hope this information is useful. 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

    Kate,

     

    Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

    REF KE/Khe

     

Help us do whatever it takes, because we’ve never been needed more.

© Macmillan Cancer Support 2025 © Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). Also operating in Northern Ireland. A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales company number 2400969. Isle of Man company number 4694F. Registered office: 3rd Floor, Bronze Building, The Forge, 105 Sumner Street, London, SE1 9HZ. VAT no: 668265007