New Side Affect???

How old is your husband? Has he had prostate problems or surgery?

He had the Whipple surgery 2 years ago. No prostate problems. He's 68.

I did not experience that during my treatment, but Dr. Google indicates that urinary incontinence can be a (rare) result of Gem/Abrax chemo, sometimes associated with bladder inflammation (cystitis).

Sorry for the long cut-and-paste answer below, but here's what I got from pasting "urinary incontinence abraxane gemcitabine chemotherapy" into the Google search bar:

AI Overview:

Urinary incontinence is an uncommon side effect of the chemotherapy combination of Abraxane (nab-paclitaxel) and gemcitabine. The risk is generally low, but it can occur. Both drugs are used to treat various cancers, including pancreatic cancer.

Abraxane

Uncommon side effect: Urinary incontinence is an uncommon (0.1% to 1%) genitourinary side effect of Abraxane.

Neuropathy: The drug is more commonly known to cause peripheral neuropathy, or nerve damage, which can lead to numbness or tingling in the hands and feet. In rare instances, nerve damage caused by chemotherapy can affect the nerves that control the bladder, potentially leading to incontinence.

Gemcitabine

Bladder irritation: When given intravesically (directly into the bladder) for bladder cancer, gemcitabine can cause temporary symptoms like an increased urge and frequency of urination. In systemic (intravenous) chemotherapy, gemcitabine can also cause bladder inflammation (cystitis).

Combination therapy: A case study reported urinary incontinence in a patient receiving a combination of gemcitabine and docetaxel, suggesting a possible link to chemotherapy-induced nerve damage impacting bladder function. While this study did not involve Abraxane, it highlights how multi-drug chemotherapy regimens can sometimes affect bladder control.

Contributing factors to incontinence

The Canadian Cancer Society notes that urinary incontinence during chemotherapy can be caused by:
Nerve damage: Certain chemotherapy drugs can harm the nerves that control the bladder.

Bladder inflammation: High-dose chemotherapy can cause inflammation of the bladder lining.

Other side effects: Related side effects such as vomiting and diarrhea can also contribute to a loss of bladder control.

Management and prognosis

If you experience urinary incontinence during your chemotherapy treatment, notify your medical team immediately.

Management often involves drinking plenty of fluids to flush the bladder and may include medication or other strategies to help with bladder control.

For many patients, incontinence may improve as the body recovers after treatment.
However, sometimes the condition can be permanent, particularly if nerve damage has occurred.

Abraxane Side Effects: Common, Severe, Long Term

Sep 27, 2024 — Genitourinary * Common (1% to 10%): Urinary tract infection. * Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dysuria, pollakiuria, hematuria, nocturia, polyuria, urinary incontinence,
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Drugs.com

Urinary incontinence | Canadian Cancer Society

Urinary incontinence after some cancer treatments may gradually get better as the body recovers. Sometimes urinary incontinence is permanent. Radiation therapy ...
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Canadian Cancer Society
Gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane®)
Some people may have side effects while they are being given the chemotherapy or shortly after they have it: * Allergic reaction. Some people have an allergic r...
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Macmillan Cancer Support

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