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Blood and blood clots in urine two years post radiation
I am two years out from prostate radiation. No post treatment blood in urine (beginning of stream) until after February of this year 2026 after going on daily baby aspirin.
3 times in February / March then nothing until recently (August 2026). Blood and clots at beginning of stream. I’ve been hesitant to make appointment with urologist for evaluation and cystoscopy. I know I should do this but I’m dealing with a malignant lung nodule and treatment options and just dont have the energy to be scoped out.
My AI research (I know…) and what i have read on this forum says about two years out is not unusual for late radiation cystitis (typical late tissue changes) with small blood clots. Particularly if just starting daily baby aspirin which acts as mild blood thinner. Frm what Ive read, radiation causes gradual changes to the lining of the urinary tract and the prostatic urethra. Over time, the blood vessels in these areas can become fragile, leading to minor, intermittent bleeding.
Why it happens at the start of the stream: Blood or small sloughed tissue/clots that have pooled in the prostatic urethra or near the bladder neck tend to be flushed out first when you begin urinating, followed by clear, normal-looking urine.
I’m also reading that while radiation-induced tissue changes (aka, late radiation cystitis or urethritis) are a primary suspect, visible blood in the urine (gross hematuria) always requires a thorough evaluation by your radiation oncologist or urologist. It is essential to rule out other potential causes, such as a localized infection, kidney or bladder stones, or new changes in the bladder or urinary tract lining.
Because this started after going on daily baby aspirin (makes fragile, radiation-treated blood vessels in the prostate and bladder lining much more prone to oozing or leaking blood into the urinary tract) and so far has been only occasional snd not inconsistent with others here on the forum experiencing similar issues, i’m inclined wait and see.
So I guess my question is, has anyone else experienced this and taken a “wait and see” approach with no really bad outcomes from that decision?
Thank you and best wishes your journey. Radiation combined with ADT (Lupron) for 18 months wasn’t fun but like everything else, you just get it done. There are do many things that are much worse. I thank God for my good health and good doctors, nurses, staff and facilities.
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@nealmccoy175 My heart goes out to your father. And yes, he should find a urology surgeon who can irrigate the bladder with ALUM or another chemical agent. People respond to different agents. There is ample information online. I used Amicar first which lasted only one month. ALUM is a harsher, stronger chemical. However, hyperbaric oxygen does treat this although 72 sessions did nothing for me. This might be a good option also.
ps: I got tired of running into the ER every time I had urinary retention so I learned how to self- irrigate using thin disposable catheters. (A Foley catheter is used by doctors. The clots can pass through, but they cannot through a thin catheter.) This is how it’s done:
With a plunger filled with sterile water and 5% hydrogen peroxide (breaks up clots) inserted into the end of the catheter the solution is plunged into the bladder. The water pressure pushes the clots away from the bladder opening and the peroxide softens and breakes down the clots. The catheter is immediately pulled out because the cots cannot pass through. (This didn’t dawn on me the first time and the catheter and all the blood and urine exploded across the bathroom and hit the sink cabinets). The gloved hands and equipment must be kept sterilized with alcohol. Sometimes it took several tries. I attached a photo depicting a successful irrigation. It’s a bit macabre; not for the faint of heart.
@nealmccoy175 Hi I did 80 sessions of hyperbaric a year ago because I went through the same thing from radiation 7 years ago. So far after a year I have had no issues.
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1 ReactionI'm in the exact position,my radiotherapy finished April 2024.
My PSA Levels are very low 0.42 but now I've got Blood and Bloods Clots on my urine-dark Red in the mornings.
I went to my GP who out me on antibiotics but received a call today saying there was no infection found in my urine sample
I've now got to gove blood at my local hospital for testing and wait to hear from the Hospotal Urology suite for more tests.
Not looking fwd to do it all over again.
Hopefully it's nothing 🙏