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Brief blood in urine 2 1/2 years after SRT

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Posted 12/14/2012 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
about a month ago, I passed some coffee ground looking grains and a brief stream of red urine. Yesterday I mentioned this to my urologist during my annual visit (4 years ago he performed my Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP)). I had salvage radiation about 2 1/2 years ago.

The urologist wants to check things out with a cystoscope. He commented that this may be as a result of the radiation.

I actually didn't think it was a big deal since my impression was that it wasn't that unusual after LRP or SRT even a few years out. Am I correct? This was a one time incident and no other symptoms other than occasional slight burning and drips which I attribute to latent effects of SRT.

Not crazy about the cystoscopy procedure... seems to be a bit overkill. Has passing blood happened to others this far out from LRP or SRT?

Best to all,
Jake
Posted 12/14/2012 5:33 PM (GMT 0)
My treatment was surgery, not radiation, but I can relate to passing bright red, bloody urine twice during the two years after treatment.  The cystoscopy is a good idea, because bleeding like that can result from other causes in the urinary tract and bladder.

It could have been a small kidney stone, or the cause may never be known, but you shouldn't ignore it.

In my case, the uro also had me undergo an ultrasound of the kidneys.

 

Posted 12/14/2012 5:45 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Clock,
Good point about investigating other potential causes of the blood. Thanks again for your comment.
Jake
Posted 12/14/2012 5:45 PM (GMT 0)
i have the same problem.  neither my uro or radiation oncologist were concerned.  they say it's radiation cystitis and it's also accompanied by by burning and frequency.  they say i have a minor case and it will most likely recur.

ed

Posted 12/14/2012 5:59 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Ed, that's the term, "radiation cystitis", the urologist used (he said it quick as are most of his comments as he reaches for the door so I wasn't sure). Glad to hear the problem isn't much for you; I would rate mine minor too.
Jake
Posted 12/14/2012 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
I recieved my SRT back in 2004.....since then I've had 3 episodes of bleeding in my urine...some substantial amounts...each time I had the scope which is really not a big deal...radiation damage visiualized in the bladder....get it checked out.

 

Posted 12/14/2012 10:28 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Zig,

Good to know the scope isn't a big deal too, Uro said he would use some numbing jell... I'm going to request some super-duper numbing jell.

Regards,
Jake
Posted 12/14/2012 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Ziggy

I wanted to email you, but your email is not active on HW. Can you email me?

Mel
Posted 12/14/2012 11:54 PM (GMT 0)
Happy IMRT is working out for you. We were not so lucky, first 2.5 years no problems at all, then all he$$ broke loose! Tumors in bladder and many parts fried up. Now we spend 2 hours a day in a hyperbaric chamber. all it takes is for the radiation tec to be a millimeter off the target and your toast. Its pure he$$ urinating blood and the severe burning when urinating. Just be aware IMRT can have many side effects years later. Radiation causes cystitus and can be serious, we had to have surgery to remove the tumors.

Posted 12/15/2012 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
John, hope the hyperbaric treatments improve your side effects soon. I'll remain vigilant on any changes.

Our best to you,
Jake
Posted 12/15/2012 2:05 AM (GMT 0)
HI, Jake. THe same thing happened to me almost two weeks ago. Woke up for the first pee of the day and had bright red blood in the urine. Half hour later, same thing. Saw my PCP that afternoon and just had trace amounts then. 2 days later, still trace amounts. Saw the urologist Wed. of this week, still a trace, and they scheduled CT scan today and cystoscopy on 1/08/13. They told me that it was probably radiation cystitis and that it usually shows up 3 to 5 yrs. after radiation if it shows up at all. THe radiation is supposed to be very localized, but occasionally will somehow get diverted and affect the bladder or kidneys. With the cystoscopy, they will be able to tell if the inside of the bladder looks like a bad case of acne on a 16yr. old. He said that at times, it looks like a bomb went off in there. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I've researched so far, there is burning during urination with cystitis. If there is no burning, then it's more likely bladder cancer, which is treatable, but a more troubling scenario. I've had no burning. If my eyes had been closed, I wouldn't have known about the blood in my urine at all.

I completed radiation in Dec. 2009, so that puts me at the 3 yr. mark. I've tried to put PCa on the back burner, but it just got moved to the front, and that burner is set on high and I'm about to boil over. Time will tell. Happy New Year to us.

Bob
Posted 12/15/2012 2:25 AM (GMT 0)
Bob, thanks for the research information, I've learned a lot today.

Seems like there are several that have experienced the blood in the urine at a time I thought we would be home free.... well except for late onset of ED if lucky enough to miss it the first time around.

My cysto is scheduled for 1/14/2013. Lets touch bases afterwards and compare notes.

Take care,
Jake
Posted 1/9/2013 1:50 AM (GMT 0)
HI, Jake. Had the cystoscopy today. Urinalysis still showed slight trace blood in the urine. An injection of lidocaine down the urethra, and five minutes later got scoped. Showed no tumors in the bladder and 3 slightly bloody spots. Conclusion...radiation cystitis.So for now we do nothing. If blood, and I mean gross hematuria, occurs again then it will be off to the hyperbaric chamber for 80 hours. Not crazy about the idea, but I think it beats having to fight a second battle with the dreaded C word.

All in all. fairly uneventful procedure. No pain, slight discomfort, but better than a trip to the dentist. I watched the procedure on a monitor and could see what the Doc saw. He saw some scarring, but nothing worrisome. From the time he scoped me to completion was probably less than 2 minutes. I'll go see him in 6mos. and we'll follow up from there.

Yours is next week. Let me know how it goes.
All the best,

Bob
Posted 1/9/2013 4:18 AM (GMT 0)
Hubby just had two blood in urine episodes during the holidays. Went for cystoscope yesterday. Bladder still had beent inside and left side of bladder was very red and angry looking with the appearance of blisters. The uro even let me look in the scope and showed me good area,bleeding and blistering areas. He took 3 tissue samples concerned it is cancer but the samples maybe be to small and come back inconclusive , if so they will put him under and take bigger tissue samples. Wasn't the worst procedure he has to endure,but the after effects,burning and bleeding have been very very uncomfortable. Uro said he could expect if for at least 24 hrs because of all the cauterizing he did. Now again the waiting game for results.
Posted 1/9/2013 6:00 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for update Bob. Glad to hear there was no immediate action needed and sure hope it stays that way!

Your description of the procedure puts me more at ease for next week. I'll report back afterwards.

Jitters, sorry to hear about your husband's problems over the holidays. My thoughts will be that the samples will not show cancer and the procedure side effects will be very temporary.

Our best to all,
Jake
Posted 1/9/2013 2:34 PM (GMT 0)
My radiation cystitis started 18 months out from RT. I don't have any burning, just periods of a few days of bleeding every few weeks.

Had the CT scan looking for stones as well.

Posted 1/9/2013 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much for this thread. I had an episode of blood in the urine a week ago (3 years after SRT). It went away after one day. I had attributed it to trying too hard "to get my guy hard" (Im on HT, and no it did not work). now I see that it may have been from the bladder as a result of RT. I do not want to get scoped and probably won't even mention it to the docs unless it happens again
Posted 1/9/2013 7:20 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks 142 for providing your experience too.... sure seems like things can be expected later than sooner with SRT...

Keeping faith, I have time after time come to appreciate the Healingwell community where experiences are shared without inhibitions. I always understand that no one participating is a medical professional but the collective knowledge of each one of us is powerful in understanding our treatments and side effects..... as others have said much better than myself... "no one is alone here".

Our best to all,
Jake
Posted 1/10/2013 2:46 AM (GMT 0)
Jake, I forgot to mention that today I had some burning when starting urination. It would go away about half way through. I imagine that it's from being scoped and that there is some irritation. No visible blood, though.

142, if you have blood every few weeks,what did they prescribe or mention to do for treatment. Hyperbaric? I've had no visible blood for over a month now, just the trace that shows up in the urinalysis.

Jitters, your description is right on. It looks like a blister with some blood on the head of it. I had three of them. Strange looking inside of yourself.

Keeping faith. You might want to reconsider the scope. I'd rather find out what's causing it than to sit and stew about it. Hope I'm not stepping on your toes.

Bob
Posted 1/14/2013 11:26 PM (GMT 0)
Bob (Ralpha Alpalfa) et.al.,

Just wanted to report the results of my cystoscopy procedure this morning to investigate the passing of blood clot and bleeding a couple months ago. As others kindly indicated the thought of the procedure was mostly worse than the actual procedure. Lidocaine jell was inserted into the penis (worse part was the coldness) and about 20 minutes later the procedure was done. Some discomfort felt but tolerable.

The Uro saw no bladder tumors but said a portion could not be seen since the bladder started filling due to length of time I laid on the table (probably won't get a discount though for a partial cystocscopy). Some redness seen but nothing special.

His conclusion was if there was another episode of bleeding he would investigate further and include the kidneys for possible tumors. I see him again in 5 months.

I also had a testosterone test done about a week ago since I had complained about losing some of my giddy-up. The level came in at 380 which the Uro said was on the low side. He did not feel comfortable doing anything at this point since I've only been undetectable for about a year and half past SRT and didn't want to add any fuel to the fire if any residual cancer remains.

Our best to you all,
Jake
Posted 1/15/2013 1:36 AM (GMT 0)
Good to hear, Jake. I wonder, in hindsight, why he didn't ask for a specimen for a urinalysis prior to the procedure. That would have shown trace blood and given you a chance to empty before he began. A CT scan might be in order at the 5 month to rule out tumors elsewhere. All in all, a good report.
Glad it worked out OK for you.

I can understand why he didn't want to up the T level at this point. I guess it's something we all have to live with. "Live" being the operative word.

All the best,
Bob
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