Urinary Obstruction
It is not unusual for the normal flow of urine to become blocked when you have metastatic bladder cancer.
“The tumor may block the bladder outlet, making it difficult to empty the bladder, or it may compress or invade one or both ureters — the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder,” says Barbosa.
This can lead to urine backing up into the kidneys, impaired kidney function, pain, recurrent urinary tract infections, and difficulty receiving certain cancer treatments, he says.
Supportive Care
There are several effective ways to restore urine flow, protect kidney function, and prevent complications.
“A urinary catheter can drain the bladder when the obstruction is lower down, while a ureteral stent can be placed internally to keep urine flowing from the kidney past an obstruction,” says Dr. Rewari. “If a stent cannot be placed or does not adequately relieve the blockage, a nephrostomy tube can drain urine directly from the kidney into an external collection bag.”
For longer-term management, Dr. Garje says a suprapubic catheter may be an option. This is a tube that’s placed in your bladder through a small incision in the stomach to drain urine into a bag.
“Relieving the blockage can help improve kidney function and reduce the risk of infection,” he says. “However, these devices can themselves become a source of infection. Careful hygiene and regular device exchanges are therefore essential when they are needed for an extended period.”
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