Cancer Treatment and Bladder Inflammation

Cystitis is a common side effect of chemotherapy for some cancers. It can be serious and cause bleeding in your bladder, increasing your risk for infection.

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Cystitis is when the lining of your bladder becomes inflamed. It can be serious and cause bleeding in your bladder (hemorrhagic cystitis).

Symptoms of cystitis

Cystitis symptoms include:

  • Peeing often

  • The sudden need to pee

  • Pain or a burning feeling when peeing

  • Trouble starting to pee

  • Dark or bad-smelling pee

  • Blood in the pee

  • Bladder spasms, cramps, or pain and discomfort in your pelvis

  • Trouble completely emptying the bladder

  • A little pee leaking when coughing or sneezing

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms.

What causes cystitis?

Some treatments for cancer are more likely to cause cystitis. Cystitis may be caused by some chemotherapy medicines. These include:

  • Cyclophosphamide

  • Ifosfamide

  • Busulfan

  • Doxorubicin

  • Dacarbazine

  • Fludarabine

  • Cabazitaxel

You may also get cystitis if you’re having radiation treatment aimed at your pelvis. Bladder irritation can start several weeks after radiation therapy begins. It may get better a few weeks after treatment ends. Symptoms of bladder fibrosis (scarring caused by irritation) may not show up until months or even years after treatment.

How can I prevent cystitis?

If you’re at risk for cystitis, you should:

  • Pee as soon as you feel the urge and before going to bed at night.

  • Drink plenty of liquids. Most people need to drink at least 8 cups of fluid each day. Ask your healthcare provider how much fluid you should drink. Your pee should be light yellow or clear.

Your healthcare provider may shield your bladder during radiation therapy, if possible. If you are getting certain types of chemotherapy, your provider may prescribe a medicine that protects your bladder or give you extra intravenous (IV) fluids.

How is cystitis treated?

If you get cystitis, your provider may:

  • Adjust your treatment plan.

  • Give you medicine to treat pain and inflammation.

  • Provide antibiotics to treat or prevent infection.

  • Give you fluids to help flush your bladder.

  • Advise a medicine that will protect the lining of your bladder.

When to call your healthcare provider

Tell your provider right away if you have any of these:

  • Bladder or belly pain

  • Pain while peeing

  • Frequent peeing

  • Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as advised by your provider

  • Blood in your pee

  • Can't pee