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About This Resource

Author: Waterloo-Wellington Regional Cancer Program

Revised: April 2021

PEM#: PEM6212

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How to Cope with Urinary Changes 

Surgery and Radiation treatments for prostate cancer can lead to urinary (ability to pass water) changes.

Effects of Radiation Therapy

Radiation treatments can affect the cells in your bladder and urethra (tube that carries pee from your bladder to outside your body).  Radiation can also damage the muscles around your prostate which control the flow of pee.

  • These effects may cause you to:
  • Pee more often during the day and night
  • Feel a sudden need to pee
  • Have a weaker stream of pee
  • Dribble
  • Feel burning when you pee
  • Feel like you cannot empty your bladder

If you have any side effects, or need to ask a question, talk to one of your health care team members:

  • Doctor
  • Nurse
  • Radiation Therapist

If you are unable to pee for 12 hours call your health care team right away or go to your nearest emergency department.

Effects of Surgery

Your entire prostate and some of the muscles around your prostate may be removed during your prostate cancer surgery.  Fewer muscles can cause you to dribble or become incontinent (not able to hold your pee).

  • Stress incontinence – you may dribble or leak pee if you sneeze, cough, laugh or lift something heavy.
  • Complete incontinence – you cannot hold your pee an

How to Cope with Urinary Changes

  • Drink at least 8 (8oz/250mL) glasses of water each day to reduce your chance of getting a bladder infection.
  • Stop drinking fluids after supper so you don’t have to get up in the night to pee as often.
  • Avoid alcohol, or drinks that contain caffeine as they will make you pee more often.
  • Do not drink citrus or tomato juice as it may make it painful to pee (burning feeling).  Try cranberry juice.
  • Do not hold your pee as this can lead to a bladder infection.
  • You may need to have tests to check for a urinary infection or to check if your bladder can fully empty.

How to Cope with Incontinence

  • Train your bladder: Start by peeing every hour during the day, whether you need to or not, and slowly increase the time between pees.
  • Keep a bottle to pee in next to your bed to use during the night.
  • Protect your bed by using a waterproof mattress cover or bed mats.
  • Protect your clothes by wearing a pad inside your underwear or a diaper. No one will notice.
  • Choose a pad to fit your body size and the amount of    leakage you have.  When you are away from home bring a bag with an extra pad, underwear and pants.
  • Do Kegel exercises to help strengthen the muscles that help you hold your pee.

How to do Kegel Exercises

  • Squeeze your muscles like you are trying to hold in your pee or like you are trying not to pass gas.
  • Hold the squeeze for 10 seconds.
  • Relax for 10 seconds.
  • Repeat these steps 10 times.
  • Do these exercises 3-5 times a day.

Helpful Supports

Prostate Cancer

Find a Physiotherapist

Try the website linked here if you would like to seek physiotherapy for urinary incontinence.

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Use this resource for your information only. It does not replace medical advice from your doctor or other healthcare professionals.

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.cancerwaterloowellington.ca

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