Priya Singh Priya Singh Asked 4 months ago

Can chemo cause kidney stones?

My aunt is going through chemotherapy, and she's been having a lot of discomfort lately. She mentioned something about her back hurting. Could kidney stones be a side effect of the chemo treatment?

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8 answers

Manish Pandey Manish Pandey Joined Jan 2026 4 months ago
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I ignored a dull ache in my back during treatment, thinking it was just generic chemo body pain, but it turned out to be a painful kidney stone. If you feel any sharp pain in your back or side, or if there is pain during urination, please get it checked by your doctor immediately.

Gopal Krishnan Gopal Krishnan Joined Mar 2026 4 months ago

Beta, these chemo drugs are very hot and strong for the kidneys, which can sometimes lead to stones. Traditionally, we advise drinking plenty of barley water or coconut water to flush the kidneys, but you must ask your doctor first before trying anything new during treatment.

Aniruddh Bose Aniruddh Bose Joined Mar 2026 4 months ago

According to the clinical oncology guidelines my doctor shared, certain chemotherapy regimens can indeed precipitate kidney stones due to hyperuricemia (elevated uric acid from cell death). They often prescribe Allopurinol or similar medications to manage uric acid levels and protect kidney function during cycles.

Rohan Mehra Rohan Mehra Joined Apr 2026 4 months ago

Yes, chemo can absolutely cause kidney stones due to high uric acid or calcium load on the kidneys. Make sure your doctor is running regular renal function tests (RFT) and uric acid panels. If you notice any blood in urine, contact them immediately.

Riya Kapoor Riya Kapoor Joined Mar 2026 4 months ago

Hey, yes, it can happen because the kidneys have to filter out all those heavy toxins and broken-down cells. My cousin faced this during her treatment. Staying super hydrated is key, so keep a water bottle with you always and try to sip continuously.

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Nikhil Kamath Nikhil Kamath Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

I was reading about tumor lysis syndrome recently, where rapid cell breakdown from chemo increases uric acid and calcium in the kidneys, sometimes forming stones. It is a known complication, which is why doctors often prescribe uric-acid-lowering meds alongside. Pretty intense how it all works!

Karan Johar Karan Johar Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

Yes, some chemo drugs break down cancer cells rapidly, which can increase uric acid levels in your blood and lead to kidney stones. The best way to prevent this is by drinking massive amounts of water throughout the day. I made sure to track my daily water intake, and it really helped.

Aditi Bhatia Aditi Bhatia Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

Oh dear, the thought of kidney stones on top of chemo is so incredibly stressful! I get so anxious about side effects. Please talk to your oncologist about this so they can reassure you and maybe prescribe preventive medications to keep your kidneys safe.

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