Some form of urinary and bowel dysfunction is normal following initial therapy for localized prostate cancer. However, it’s important to know that not all symptoms are normal, and that some require immediate care. Call your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms.
| What to look for | Why it is dangerous |
|---|---|
| Inability to urinate or incomplete emptying of the bladder | A backup of urine can cause infections and bladder or kidney damage |
| Constipation lasting for more than four days | A backup of stool can cause infections and damage to the bowel |
| Excessive and/or uncontrolled diarrhea | Too much water loss that accompanies diarrhea can lead to dehydration, lightheadedness, fainting, and collapse |
| Excessive and/or continuous rectal bleeding or blood in the urine | Too much blood loss can lead to lightheadedness, fainting, and collapse or other serious problems; blood clots in the bladder can block the passage of urine |
| Erection lasting for more than four hours or an increasingly cold, bluish penis if you are using certain treatments for erectile dysfunction | Lack of fresh circulating oxygenated blood can cause damage to the penile tissue |