Ask a doctor on the topic of Urology

Urinary obstruction after prostate radiation

September 24, 2013 | 35,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Kathrin Hamann

Dear Sir or Madam,

This year, my father was treated for prostate cancer. He is 70 years old. The end of the treatment was on 31.07.2013 (after 42 days of radiation).

During the treatment, he had a urinary obstruction. He then had a catheter inserted. This was followed by a urinary tract infection. The prescribed medications for this were Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, and the antibiotic Cipro.

Approximately 14 days after the treatment, he experienced another urinary obstruction. This led to a catheter being inserted into his abdomen. This problem has not improved to this day. He is able to urinate normally once a day, but then experiences blockage again. The remaining urine has to be drained through the catheter.

For the past 18 days, he has not been taking any medications (only the catheter) and there is still no improvement in sight.

He is now interested in a second opinion: especially how long can this situation last until the bladder regenerates after the radiation treatment? Are there any other possible therapies or medications that could support healing?

Thank you for your response.

Dr. med. Kathrin Hamann

Good morning, the problem could be the bladder, but it is much more likely to be related to the urethra. Normally, the issue should resolve 3-4 weeks after treatment.

In any case, I would recommend consulting with the treating urologist to determine the cause of the disturbance. Depending on the cause of the problem, different treatments may be considered.

Please continue to undergo further examinations and receive targeted treatment.

All the best, and feel free to ask any further questions.

Kind regards,

Dr. K. Hamann