Blood can be seen in the urine when a patient is bleeding in some part of his urinary system and the blood is being flushed out along with the urine. Common causes include urinary tract infections (UTIs), an injury to the urinary tract, kidney or bladder stones, a tumor growing in the urinary tract, or a low platelet count. (See the section on blood counts.)

What to look for

• red, pink, or tea-colored urine
• blood or clots in urine
• pain with urination

What the patient can do

• Drink about 1 quart of water (or other fluids) during each 8-hour period (3 quarts each day), unless your doctor has limited the amount you can drink.
• Take medicines as prescribed.

What caregivers can do

• Offer extra fluids.
• Help the patient watch his urine, if needed.

Call the doctor if the patient:

• sees blood in the urine or discolored urine
• has pain in lower back or on lower sides of back when urinating
• has pink, cloudy, or foul-smelling urine
• has symptoms that do not improve after treatment
• has a sudden, urgent need to urinate
• urinates more often than usual
• is unable to urinate
• has a fever of more than 100.5° F when taken by mouth, or shaking chills
• is confused or feels or seems "different" to others

Go back to Caring for the Patient with Cancer at Home: A Guide for Patients and Families.

Last Medical Review: 04/27/2009
Last Revised: 04/27/2009