Patients with Baldder Cancer

My Father was diagnosed with Carcinoma-situ-acute-moderate & chronic- Bladder cancer -was advised to have Immune therapy for 6 weeks

 Anyone out there that has had this process?  I am at a loss right now--

Thank you

Almost a year ago my husband was diagnosed with stage 1 bladder cancer and went through those treatments (BCG).  His tumor grade, though, was 3 of 4, which is very agressive and the BCG did not work for him.  Check and double check the CT scan/pathology reports and if the tumor or tumors are high grade, he may want to get a second opinion.  I wish we would have, because now my husband is at stage 4 and it spread to the lymph nodes and bone while we were wasting time having BCG treatments.  He should have just had the bladder removed, but that is what happens when you are uninformed and trust the wrong doctors.

Intravesical BCG is highly effective in superficial Bladder cancer with usually mild to moderate side effects.  If it does not work or goes invasive then surgery or some bladder sparing protocols can give good local control and sometimes allow the bladder to remain and function normally.

Interestingly ,  I am not aware of a bladder sparing approach for superficial that has been reported although it should work .  It may be an option for a person who is motivated and will undergo close followup as with any bladder sparing approach.

Intravesical BCG is highly effective in superficial Bladder cancer with usually mild to moderate side effects.  If it does not work or goes invasive then surgery or some bladder sparing protocols can give good local control and sometimes allow the bladder to remain and function normally.

Interestingly ,  I am not aware of a bladder sparing approach for superficial that has been reported although it should work .  It may be an option for a person who is motivated and will undergo close followup as with any bladder sparing approach.

Hi

 As far as I know - stage 1 is only invasive and BCG does not work.Initially I was dx'd stage 2 and my uro recommended BCG. Fortunately I got a 2nd opinion...6 weeks later at cystectomy/neobladder I was found to be stage 3. Had I done the BCG I would be dead now. A 2nd opinion should be mandated for bladder cancer because of this problem.

  Best wishes, Holly

Hi, If immune therpy is BCG, I am doing that now. First 6 weeks, once a week you get treatment, wait 3 months then you get 3 weeks of treatment ,once a week, wait 3 months and do it again. My Doctor told me only 40% of paients can handle these treatments for 6 years.

I am just finished my 2nd set, and I get a scope of bladder next week to see how everything looks. I have some side affects with this last set and the Doctor lowered my dose.

BCG is a live bacteria that is used for TB vacine. It causes the immune system to go to your bladder to kill the live cells and also the cancer cells in your bladder.I consider the side effects "as no pain no gain". Hey it's better then cancer.

I had two types of cancer in my bladder, both high grade. With surgery they removed them and I was lucky it hadn't invaded my muscle wall.Cancer and sure control your brain. It has changed my life.

Let me know if BCG is what you are getting Good luck.

 

On 9/7/2007 Coach wrote:

My Father was diagnosed with Carcinoma-situ-acute-moderate & chronic- Bladder cancer -was advised to have Immune therapy for 6 weeks

 Anyone out there that has had this process?  I am at a loss right now--

Thank you

Hello, and sorry for your father's diagnosis. Be very wary of immune therapy in light of more aggresive treatment options.

As you probably know by now, this is a highly recurring cancer, and time is of the essence!

Talk about organ removal treatments and such, so that your surgeon knows that LIVING is your top priority.

So many patients are overwhelmed with saving what they have rather than prolonging their lives and it can be very negative to the healing process if tough decisions aren't made quickly.

good luck to you and God bless.

 

survivor one