Bladder Instillation Therapy for Cancer: What to Expect at Home
Your Recovery
A catheter was inserted through your urethra to place fluid and medicines into your bladder.
After the procedure, you may feel like you need to urinate more often than usual.
You may have other symptoms depending on the medicines you were given. They may include:
- Urine that smells or looks different for several days after treatment.
- Flu-like symptoms, such as a fever.
These symptoms may be normal.
This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover. But each person recovers at a different pace. Follow the steps below to get better as quickly as possible.
How can you care for yourself at home?
After your procedure:
- Rest when you feel tired. You can do your normal activities when it feels okay to do so.
- Drink plenty of fluids. This will help remove the medicines from your bladder.
- Your doctor will tell you if and when you can restart your medicines. You'll get instructions about taking any new medicines.
- Your doctor will give you instructions for how to safely flush urinals and toilets and clean up after your procedure.
- You may need to:
- Avoid using public urinals and toilets for a certain amount of time.
- Wash your hands and genitals after urinating. This can help prevent skin irritations.
- Wash any clothing that may have urine on it. Wash this separately from other clothing.
- Use condoms or dental dams during sex. Do this for at least 1 week after the procedure. Your doctor may suggest that you use them longer.
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
When should you call for help?
Call your doctor or nurse advice line now or seek immediate medical care if:
- You have symptoms of a urinary tract infection. These may include:
- Pain or burning when you urinate.
- A frequent need to urinate without being able to pass much urine.
- Pain in the flank, which is just below the rib cage and above the waist on either side of the back.
- Blood or pus in your urine.
- A fever.
- Your urine smells bad.
- You can't pass any urine.
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse advice line if you have any problems.
Current as of: December 18, 2023
Author: Healthwise Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
