What does foam in urine mean?

[Jairi]

Hi My mom has cholangiocarcinoma /bile duct cell tumor.
She is telling me today that she notices foam in her urine and it is redish colored.
She feels discomfort on her rt side under the ribs near the stomach but no pain.
Should I be concerned?
She only drinks teas and eats ice because she can not tolerate water, it makes her vomit. She has had these symptoms all month.
I would appreciate guidance in this awful disease, please.
thank you.

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi.  It may be best to have your mother's blood and urine bile levels tested.  If these are indeed elevated, you may need to see a surgeon or a gastroenterologist so that the appropriate treatment can be given.  Treatment in this instance may consist of placing stents on the biliary tract to relieve the obstruction and promote bile flow.

[Jairi]

Thank you Dr.Roque for your reply.
Is this a matter of concern. Do I have to take her in to see her doctor, or the emergency room.

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi.  The foam in the urine, as well as the darker colored urine may be symptoms of bile spillage in the urine.  The cholangiocarcinoma may be blocking bile secretion into the digestive tract, such that the bile gets dammed back into the blood stream.  Eventually, the high blood levels of bile spills over into the urine and causes the changes which you described.