Acute urinary retention

It happens when the prostate or the scarring around the urethra blocks the outflow, and it can follow radiotherapy, brachytherapy, focal treatment or surgery. The bladder is drained with a catheter. Prostate Cancer UK says to ring the doctor or nurse or go to the nearest accident and emergency department, and to make sure whoever sees you knows what prostate cancer treatment you have had. Chronic retention is the painless version, where the bladder never empties fully, and shows as dribbling, a weak flow and repeated infections.