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How do you manage incontinence after chemo infusions?

Community Member

4 days ago

February 11th I was diagnosed with stage three esophageal cancer. At the junction with the stomach. My Care team is at Vanderbilt Medical Ingram Cancer Center. World class staff in my opinion. I was liquid only diet for over 2 months. Once I received my 2 infusion the tumor had shrunk enough I can eat soft foods. I lost over 40# and was right on there precipice of starvation and malnutrition. Working on gaining back now. I am on the following protocol of infusion treatment every 2 weeks. Fluorouracil (FU-5) Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin®) Docetaxel (Taxotere) Durvalumab (Imfinzi®) once a month. There are mostly good days but some pretty rough ones along the way. I missed one infusion because my white blood cells we far too low. Back up now. I have a question for the group and I have a suitable work around to offer. The first is the work around I am songwriter and a personal healthy chef with a background in Integrative nutrition which I obtained while in culinary school. Neuropathy got so bad at one point I could not even hold a potato to peel it. So here is I toned it down enough to work. I ordered a pair of full finger, copper fit compression gloves then put 2 pairs of my nitrile gloves over them. Works really well. Now the question, does anyone have suggestions (other than the most obvious ones) to deal with the incontinence problem that comes with the steroids? It lasts for 2 to 3 days after infusion. I’ve tried everything I know. I was already being treated for BPH prior to the cancer diagnosis. Thank you.

4 comments

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Community Member

4 days ago

I wonder if you should talk with your oncologist about maybe backing down just a little on the chemo. I did after the first one and it really helped with the Side Effects I’m on identical treatment and was diagnosed on February 16. I have been using the frozen gloves and socks to combat blood flow/chemo flow into my extremities. It seems to help with the neuropathy but it does nothing for the cold sensitive. On another note. My scans after third round showed a mass in left lung. We stopped treatment and did biopsies. Thank the lord it was pneumonia possibly caused by the imfinzi /I can’t spell. Anyway I start back tomorrow with treatment four and the plan is to complete eight then build up for four weeks and do the esophagectomy. Good luck and keep us updated David

Community Member

4 days ago

Thank you David for the reply. I will send my oncologist a message about the situation. I’ve got the cold sensitivity again after yesterday’s infusion. The way I have it counted it looks like the esophagusectomy around September then another 4 months of chemo. Not looking forward to that at all. But need to get on with life.

Community Member

4 days ago

I think I’m looking at surgery in August and I’m not looking forward to it because fall is my favorite season. Football. Hunting ect. I guess we will see how quickly I can recover from the esophagectomy surgery

Community Member

4 days ago

Managing incontinence after chemo infusions can be challenging, especially when combined with existing conditions, and many patients find success with protective undergarments, scheduled bathroom breaks, and discussing medication timing adjustments with their care team. The compression glove solution for neuropathy sounds creative and practical - sharing these kinds of workarounds can really help other community members who might be facing similar challenges during treatment.

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How do you manage incontinence after chemo infusions?

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