Hello everyone,
I am 63 years old and was recently diagnosed with Superficial CIS. The CIS is very small and the recommended treatment was BCG. I underwent 6 BCG treatments then at the 3 month check up it was still there. My dr. has recommended another 6 weeks of BCG. My first question is, has anyway had to undergo two treatments and if so was the second treatment successful? Are there other options before they remove your bladder if the BCG hasn't worked? My Urologist comes very recommended and is with a large cancer center but he hasn't discussed options other then the BCG to prevent removing the bladder.
My second question is about bleeding from BCG treatments. My first round I sailed through with no side effects other then being a little tired at the end but felt great. This second round has not been as easy. I have definetely had the flu like side effects for a couple days to the entire week just feeling better right before the next treatment. I have had sporadic bleeding through this whole cycle. After the 4th treatment the bleeding was right after treatment then on and off for a few days. This past treatment (#5) there was no bleeding for the first few days then some light bleeding a few days after treatment. My concern is that the bleeding is because the cancer is not responding and maybe even progressing. The dr doesnt seem concerned but I can not find info on if this is a normal side effect or if the bleeding would actually be from the cancer progressing. Any insight would be very much appreciated your site is a wonderful thing!
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BCG treatments
- By bob1468
- Posted November 9, 2009 at 7:46 pm · 11 replies
- In Newly diagnosed
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- By Moonerj
- Posted November 9, 2009 at 8:32 pm
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My dx was TA Low Grade. I had 2 recurrences during my 1st 12 BCG treatments. I also had very little side effects during the 12 treatments. Then oh boy for my last 18 treatments had side effects like urgency, severe burning, spasms, and a lot of fatigue.
Never did experience blood in the urine except for my 29th treatment, when a rookie nurse had trouble cathing me.
Based on what I have researched on CIS, BCG seems to be the gold standard for treatment, other than a RC.
Some good information on CIS and BCG at this site below.
http://blcwebcafe.org/content/view/109/119/lang,english/
I wish you all the best,
BCG = Bladder Cancer Gone
Jack
- By 15yrsurvivor
- Posted November 9, 2009 at 11:37 pm
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I noticed you are new and I wanted to welcome you! I wish I could offer advice or answers, but I did not have post-operative BCG. There are plenty here who have and I'm sure you will be hearing from them. Good luck getting these issues resolved!
- By drd
- Posted November 10, 2009 at 7:08 am
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Like Jack, I have quite a # of bcg treatments under my, well, you know where- 36 total- Seems the symptoms accompany the good news that the stuff is working. Have been free for over 2 years.
Best of luck.
Tony
- By SilverGrizzly
- Posted November 10, 2009 at 7:33 am
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Yes, bleeding is quite common apparently. Did your uro discuss using a combination of interferon and BCG if the BCG fails? That is what my uro will does in that situation. There are also other possible treatments becoming available--such as valstar. Have you discussed this with your uro, what are the options if the BCG fails again? What major cancer center are you at? -Jan
- By Kyle-MO
- Posted November 10, 2009 at 9:18 am
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Welcome Bob,
My dx was TA low grade, and after a couple of reccurances I started bcg, and had a smaller reccurance again, so I just got through with BCG/Interferon treatments, and had a few dribbles of blood at the end of voiding during the last 5 treatments. Good luck with your treatments.
Take care,
Kyle
- By PatsyMary
- Posted November 10, 2009 at 10:34 am
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Bob:
My bladder cancer was also superficial but I underwent surgery to remove the tumors (2 of them) it was a quick in and out of the hospital in 1/2 a day. (By the way that was my 3rd occurance in 10 years) Anyway, this 3rd time was the first time the doc. recomended BCG. My understanding is that BCG does not treat the cancer. It is used to prevent reoccurance. I had the full protocol of 6 treatments followed over the course of 2 years by 3 weekly treatments every 3 months for a total of some 30 BCG treatments. Side effects were minimal but included fluish symptoms and very occasional bleeding. My doc said he felt that the side effects told him the BCG was doing it's job. So I guess my question is....did you have the tumor(s) removed? If not, why not? I would ask about that. As my doc told me..."when we catch these growths early they are nothing more than a nuisance, but if left untreated they can be deadly". I can't say I'm comfortable with the fact that my cancer keeps coming back, but sadly from what I've read, bladder cancer is known for coming back again and again, so you can never let down your guard and your new best friend is your urologist. By the way....the side efeects from BCG are a "walk in the park" compared to traditional chemo, so I'm pretty thankful about that too.
- By Justducky235
- Posted November 10, 2009 at 12:09 pm
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Some bleeding post BCG is totally normal. It's NOT a sign of cancer. Just think of it as pouring drain cleaner into your bladder. It doesn't like it! Just keep drinking lots of fluids.
- By bob1468
- Posted November 11, 2009 at 9:52 am
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Hello
Thank you all for your responses it is so great to hear from others that are going through the same thing.
Silvergrizzly you asked what cancer center.. I am going to the Winter Park Cancer Center in Florida. I am wondering if I need to go for a second opinion. Does anyone know of a good doctor in the Orlando Florida area??
You also asked if I had the tumor removed. The doctor said it is very minimal CIS that is flat almost like velvet patches and there is not a tumor to remove. I did wonder about that, do you know if they remove those areas normally? Or do they just remove tumors?
- By Estrella
- Posted November 11, 2009 at 10:19 am
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I'm new at this but in all my reading it seems that bleeding is an expectable result of treatment and unless excessive not of concern. Keep after your doc to explain if you continue to be worried about it.
- By rockandroll
- Posted November 11, 2009 at 11:36 am
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I had 6 BCG treatments so far and had very few side effects. I did have one case of bleeding after the 6th one, but that was it. I go back the 1st week of Dec for my cysto.
- By midwestone
- Posted November 11, 2009 at 7:40 pm
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Look up my journal. I have had 4 resections/cauterizations thus far, and two 6 week series of BCG. The BCG was a failure, because I keep having reoccurance. However, it has not become progressive, has not become invasive. I am to start a new instillation chemical next Monday (16th nov.) Valstar (valrucibin) It was used in clinical trial for CIS, which is more advanced than my Ta papillary noninvasive carcinoma. Don't know what that will do. Scheduled for cysto on January 5.
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